Macaroni and Cheese with Leeks

Let me start off by saying I am not really into macaroni and cheese; I do not even like Kraft macaroni and cheese, but I must admit that I am a sucker for a good bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese. I came across this recipe for macaroni and cheese with leeks and just had to try it. Before this making this dish I had never eaten a leek before, but I love onions and green onions, so I figured that leeks would be just as good. Turned out the leeks were really good and they blended really well with the macaroni and cheese, which made this dish amazing in my opinion.

What you need:

1/4 cup butter
5 cups chopped leeks (about 5)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 1/2 cups whole milk
1 pound (4 cups) grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 eggs
1 pound penne pasta

Directions:

Melt 1/4 cup butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat; add leeks and stir to coat. Cover saucepan and cook until leeks are tender, but not brown, stirring occasionally; about 12 minutes.

Add flour; stir 2 minutes. Add milk; bring to simmer, stirring often.

Add cheese and mustard, and stir until cheese melts.

Remove from heat; salt to taste. Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling. Drain and return to pot. Stir cheese sauce into pasta in pot. Transfer to buttered casserole dish.

Bake at 400°F for 20 to 30 minutes; until cheese sauce is bubbling. Let cool 15 minutes, then serve and enjoy. 

Quick and Easy (and Cheap) Garlic Cheese Bread

I love having garlic cheese bread as a side with almost any meal. What I do not love is have to pay $3-$4 for a box of frozen Texas Toast, so I have made my own version.

What you need:

Bread slices
Butter
Garlic Powder
Your favorite Cheese

Directions:

Butter the slices of bread. Sprinkle bread with garlic powder. Top with cheese.

Broil in oven until cheese has melted.

Quick and Easy Cheese Biscuits

This is one of my favorite recipes to make because it is quick, easy, and goes with almost anything. Oh, and on top of that I almost always have the ingredients in the house to make them.

What you need:

2 cups of Bisquick
¼ - 1 cup of shredded cheese (the amount of cheese depends on how cheesy you want your biscuits and use can use whatever cheese you like)
2/3 cup of milk
¼ cup of butter
¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

First mix the Bisquick and cheese together. Then mix in the milk. Mix until dough forms.

Drop biscuits by spoon full onto baking sheet.

Bake at 425˚F for 10 to 15 minutes depending on size (for bigger biscuits, like the ones pictured, it takes about 15 minutes in the oven. I suggest baking them for 10 and then checking them every 2 minutes until you are happy with their doneness).

Melt better and mix it with the garlic powder.

Pour garlic butter mixture over biscuits while biscuits are still hot.

Serve warm.

Hope you enjoy them :)