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My gift to you... Happy Easter :)

Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients

- 16 oz Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, cut into small cubes

- 16 oz Mild Cheddar Cheese, cut into small cubes

- 16 oz Mozzarella Cheese, cut into small cubes

- Milk

- 1 stick of butter

- 3 large eggs

- Salt & pepper

- 16 oz of elbow macaroni

Directions

- Bring water to a boil for macaroni noodles, once water is boiling add noodles, 2 T of butter, and salt. Cook until the noodles are almost al dente, and drain.

- Add the ingredients in this order to the noodles. You will need to have a continuous motion of stirring while mixing everything together. Try and be quick so the noodles are still warm when you place in baking dish.

- 3 eggs, mix well

- 6 T butter

- Gradually add the cheese. While adding the cheese the mac will beco

me hard to stir, add milk in small amounts to help with stirring. Do this until all the cheese cubes is incorporated.

- Place into a baking dish, no need to butter the dish... there is plenty in it already :)

- Bake 45-60 min at 350 degrees until bubbly & the top starts to brown.

ENJOY!!

Cookies 'N Creme cupcakes

A few weeks ago I hosted a dinner party for my brother and his Collegiate golf team. I knew the boys needed a dessert but what... I came up with this creation by putting about a half bag of oreos in my food processor & mixing that up with vanilla buttercream. They were an absolute hit b/c there were none left... 24 cupcakes and 5 boys.

I LOVE Manhattan!

Don't look at him in the eye :)

Photo booth!

Shrimp & Rice

Today is Ash Wednesday, so I have been abstaining from meat and fasting all day. Well if you know me at ALL I think partly with my brain, partly with my heart but mostly with my stomach... So I have been thinking about what I was going to have for dinner ALL DAY. I saw this recipe on the Food Network not once but twice. Is it odd that I watch reruns of cooking shows I have already seen? It is Giada De Laurentiis' grandmother's shrimp & rice recipe. If you make it, you will not be disappointed. However, for some reason I feel super guilty about having such an amazing meal on a day of fasting... Guess it is my Catholic guilt coming out in me ;)

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, at room temperature
• 2 cups parboiled long-grain rice, such as Uncle Ben's
• 4 cups chicken stock, not broth
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 2 pounds small shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup lemon juice (1- 2 lemons)
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 cup whipping cream
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a medium nonstick saucepan, heat 1/2 of the butter and 1 minced clove of garlic over medium-low heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken stock and salt. Bring the

mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed. DO NOT LIFT THE LID. Remove the pan from the heat and rest covered for 5 minutes.

In a large skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes until aromatic. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp is pink and cooked through. Stir in the cream and heat through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Using a fork, fluff the rice and arrange on a platter. Spoon the shrimp cream sauce over the rice and serve.

Mardi Gras in the Little Apple

This past weekend the Krewe of Allegawaho put on an amazing Mardi Gras party at The Wareham. I had a blast getting dressed up and partying the night away. Here are some pictures.

The scene.

Aaron and me without our masks
We were just getting ready to eat. He could not eat with his mask on but I tried my best at keeping mine on. It was a bit of a challenge b/c it decreased my field of view but I did my best and kept it on ;)
Some of the girls from the Krewe doing a little dance to kick things off. They were amazing! My friend Dina is the gorgeous one in red.
Me & Ellen

Ellen, Mark (a mutual friend and attorney in town) and me
More pictures to come of the photo booth!