Macaroni and Cheese: the Right Way

Ingredients

• 7 ounces macaroni
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
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• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. In a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour. Cook for about 1 minute, until smooth and bubbly; stirring occasionally. Mix in milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Continue cooking until sauce is thickened. Add cooked macaroni and Cheddar cheese.
4. Pour into 2 quart casserole dish. In small bowl mix together bread crumbs, butter and parsley; spread over macaroni and cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.

Grilled Pizza: The Fantasy Revealed

Make the Dough

Use your favorite crust recipe. Divide the dough into two or more pieces and shape into balls for individual-sized pizzas. Set the dough aside to proof while you prepare your toppings.

Tip: if you have a heavy-duty mixer or bread machine, double the recipe. Divide and shape the dough, and freeze each portion in a plastic freezer bag greased with about a tablespoon of olive oil.

Grill Dough Jay's Signature Pizza Crust Pizza Dough II

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Assemble Your Toppings

With grilled pizza, the crust is the star. Choose a few simple ingredients that can showcase the smoky flavor and crispy crust. Or go for minimalism: top the grilled bread with a brushing of good olive oil, a sprinkling of coarse salt, and bit of chopped fresh herbs.

Suggested bases: marinara, pesto, flavored olive oil, barbeque sauce, guacamole, salsa verde
Suggested cheeses: mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, goat cheese, Parmesan, Gorgonzola
Ideas for toppings: grilled vegetables, prosciutto and fresh figs, salami, chicken, fresh herbs, fresh arugula, toasted pine nuts, olives or capers, caramelized onions, roasted garlic

Goat Cheese Arugula Pizza Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza Portobello Mushroom, Fresh Peppers and Goat Cheese Pizza Satay Chicken Pizza BBQ Chicken Pizza Pesto Pizza White Pizza with Porcinis

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Grill the Crust

Prepare the grill for high heat.

Dust a baking sheet, a peel, or a plate with flour or cornmeal so the dough won't stick.

Shape the dough into rounds, either stretching it by hand or using a rolling pin. Each round should be no more than ¼ inch thick. You can stack the rounds by layering waxed paper, parchment, or a clean well-floured kitchen towel in between the individual crusts.
When the coals are hot, have all of your toppings ready near the grill.

The easiest method for grilling pizza is to par-bake the crust: grill one side just long enough to firm up the crust so you can move it easily. By taking it off the heat, you can take your time arranging the toppings and are less likely to burn the bottom of the pizza.
Begin by placing one dough round on the grill.

• You can oil the grill's grate, but it's not necessary; once the crust has set, after about three minutes, it should be easy to pull off the heat with tongs, a spatula, or your fingers.
• Don't worry if it droops a little through the grate--it'll firm up fast.
• After two to three minutes, give it a little tug--it should move easily. If it sticks, give it another minute or so.
• When the crust is set, remove it from the heat and transfer it to a plate or peel; flip it over so the "done" side is up, and add the toppings.
• Repeat the process with the rest of the dough rounds.
• If this is a group effort, friends and family can start topping the pizzas while you grill the crusts.

How to Grill Pizza (Video)

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Grill Your Pizzas

Grill the topped pizzas until the cheese melts and the toppings are heated through. Depending upon the heat of the grill and the size of your pies, this can take two to 10 minutes (if your grill has cooled dramatically, you might need to cover it with a lid to finish the cooking).

Diabetes is only a step away...Make Cinnabon at home!

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup margarine, melted
• 4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
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• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
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• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.

Burgers, Just in Time for Labor Day

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers
• 1 onion, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat the grill for high heat.
2. In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, crushed crackers, and onion. Form into hamburger patties.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook 5 minutes per side, or until well done.

Breaded Ravioli, Beats the hell out of Tostinos

Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 (25 ounce) package cheese ravioli, thawed if frozen
• cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a wire rack on a baking sheet.
2. Beat together the egg white and water in a small bowl. Mix bread crumbs, oregano, basil, and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl.
3. Dip each ravioli in the beaten egg, and then roll in the bread crumb mixture. Spray both sides of breaded ravioli with cooking spray; place on the wire rack.
4. Bake breaded ravioli in preheated oven until golden brown and crispy, 15 to 25 minutes.

Delicious Capri Sun Fruit Punch Bars!

Capri Sun Fruit Punch Pops

INGREDIENTS

1 cup seedless green grapes, halved lengthwise

1 cup strawberries, finely chopped

1 cup blueberries

2 6-ounce Capri Sun pouches or 1 1/2 cups fruit punch

DIRECTIONS

Gather these tools: cutting board, chef's knife, dry and wet measuring cups, mixing bowl, spoon, popsicle molds

Combine the fruit in a large mixing bowl. Spoon the mixture into 8 popsicle molds. Fill each mold with enough punch to reach the fill line. Add the popsicle stick and place in the freezer.

Freeze for at least 4 hours up to overnight, or until the popsicles are frozen solid. Allow the molds to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes or place under warm running water for 10-20 seconds to remove popsicles.

Serve immediately.

Note: Use any juicy fruits you like: pineapple, kiwi, orange segments, stoned cherries, or chopped peaches.

Milky Way Cupcakes! Delicious!

Ingredients

• 4 (2.05 ounce) bars milk chocolate covered caramel and nougat candy bars (e.g. Milky Way®)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Place candy bars, butter, milk and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on High for 30 seconds; stir. Heat for an additional 10 seconds, remove the bowl from the mircrowave and stir again. Add confectioners' sugar and stir until smooth and creamy.