recipes, anyone?

Like I said earlier, I'm making an effort to post about things other than just Elliot on this blog. One thing that I really love to do, but rarely talk about here, is cook. Cooking is fun, even with a baby running through the kitchen in his walker, running over my toes and pulling down the dish towels. Call me old fashioned, but I love having dinner ready for my husband when he comes home from a long day at work.
When we moved to Texas, Aaron and I made a goal to try at least one new recipe every week. That means my lucky readers will have the pleasure of discovering new recipes along with me!
To kick things off, here's our very first recipe!


White Cheddar Broccoli Mac n Cheese {from the Craving Chronicles}
I absolutely LOVE Macaroni and Cheese. Seriously. Even the over-processed kind that comes in a box with a packet of bright orange cheese powder. For some reason, though, I've never really tried to make it myself. This will be my first attempt! To sweeten the deal, this recipe features one of my favorite veggies, broccoli. I don't know about you, but my taste buds are excited!

Ingredients
3 cups frozen baby broccoli florets
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/3 cups milk
4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces pepper jack cheese, grated
salt to taste

Directions
Steam broccoli 5-10 minutes, until tender.
*the original recipe said to microwave the broccoli, but we avoid using the microwave whenever we can.

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add elbow macaroni. Boil according to directions until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk to form a paste (roux). Cook 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste. Slowly pour in milk, whisking briskly to remove lumps. Continue cooking over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk mixture thickens. Remove from heat and whisk in shredded cheese. Add salt to taste.

Add drained macaroni back to pot. Pour cheese sauce over macaroni, add broccoli, and stir to combine. Devour.