it’s been an interesting few days…
my family has been sick, which means my baby, who normally sleeps like this:
has been waking up every few hours again at night.
i’m not sad to help her, especially when it’s the only thing to do to help a sick baby,
but i am mourning my lack of sleep.
she’s acting like she feels better during the day, but now we’re in the habit of not sleeping at night.
not good.
so, on little sleep and patience with the 2 year old,
he reached up to the counter where i keep my “recipe screen” and in slow motion,
{since i couldn’t get to him in time}
i watched him pull the ipad off with his tippy toe reach and smack that thing down to it’s tile death.
i was livid.
after we both sat in time out for a minute, i realized it’s just an ipad.
it’s a thing. {a very expensive thing} but just a thing.
minutes later, while i was still fuming, i sat him in a highchair to have som mac n cheese
{mostly to ensure a long nap, otherwise i was about ready to leave him in his room until 5 pm!}
reese was sitting in her chair, and a bit fussy.
i was ignoring them both.
sitting, staring at my phone with anger still fresh on my face…
it was a few minutes before i realized he was trying to calm her,
his little voice singing,
“i am a child of God, and He has sent me here…[shh! reese!]
has given me and earfwy home, wif parents kind and dear….”
then i cried again.
i tried to apologize for my lashing out,
which fell on deaf 2-year-old ears.
he is 2. he has no idea what he did, or what i did.
and that is equally frustrating and awesome.
all he knows is that his parents love him and are the example of how to act in these kinds of situations. kind and dear, is what i should be. even when ipads are shattered to useless bits.
yes, i’m glad he saw me take it seriously. he needs to know that,
but i do love that rascal. no matter how mad he makes me.
it was only fitting that i had mac n cheese on our schedule that night,
because it meant comfort food for everyone.
i got out to a girly christmas party,
and boss got his ultimate favorite dinner.
3 bowls full.
and i got a text from the hub saying, “this mac n cheese is freakin gourmet!”
one of our faves ever is panera. and this is BETTER. yes better than panera’s.
{no throwing tomatoes until you’ve tried it!} it’s creamy, really does taste gourmet, and the added ritz crumbs on top, MAKE it.
my mom made this into Mac Minis for Boston’s first birthday party. it was an iParty.
i have tried to make homemade mac n cheese a few times and failed, and it was not very tasty.
this stuff is indeed naughty. and heart-warming. and 2-year-old-and-mom healing.
“Panera Style” Mac & Cheese
adapted from this recipe here
- 12 oz medium pasta shells
- 5 TB butter
- 4 TB flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4oz grated sharp Vermont white cheddar cheese (use more cheddar and less American if it’s mild cheddar)
- 4oz white American cheese, crumbled
- pinch of salt
- pinch of white pepper
- whole wheat ritz
- Boil pasta shells until just cooked and tender. Drain.
- In a microwave safe cup or bowl, microwave on high 5 TB butter with 4 TB flour for 2 minutes, stopping halfway to whisk. Whisk again when the roux is done after the second minute.
- Mix 1 cup milk and 1 cup heavy cream together. Pour mixture into the roux very slowly, whisking all the time.
- Microwave mixture 1 minute at a time, stirring between minutes until the sauce becomes thick and creamy. (should take between 4 and 6 minutes)
- While sauce is hot, add grated cheddar and American cheese in small handfuls while stirring to melt all cheese into the sauce. If all of the cheese does not melt completely, you can heat the whole mixture up a little bit and keep stirring.
- The sauce should be liquid-y (is that a word?) and creamy, and have a taste that is not too sharp. You want to taste the cheddar but not have it be overpowering.
- Season sauce with a pinch of white pepper and a pinch of salt. Mix pasta shells and sauce together in serving dish.
- Top with buttered Ritz crumbs and pop in the oven at 350 for a few minutes until the topping crisps up.
Oh two year almost three year olds, they'll getcha every time 🙂 alot of the same feelings going on in this house too. 🙂 that mac and cheese looks ahhhhhmazeballs. i'm going to put it on my list to make soon!