Ritzy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

We spend most weekends in the fall watching football so we eat our fair share of chicken wings. Now that football season is officially over our family was in need of a chicken wing fix. This variation on macaroni and cheese was the perfect solution.

Ingredients
3/4 cup (divided) Shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese
2/3 cup (divided) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
4 tablespoons Butter
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups of Milk
1 tablespoon flour
Ritz Crackers(about 12)
2 Chicken Breasts cooked and either cubed or shredded
1 lb box of Medium Shell Pasta
1/3 cup Buffalo Wing Sauce (I use Buffalo Wild Wings Mild Sauce)
Ranch Dressing

Directions:
Start by cooking pasta following directions on box. While pasta is cooking begin the cheese sauce. First melt 4 tablespoons of butter in medium sauce pot. Once butter is melted whisk in 1 tablespoon of butter to form a roux. Cook 1-2 minutes. Turn heat down to low as you add in the milk. Once the mixture begins to thicken a bit add in 1/2 cup of Monerrey Jack and 1/3 cup of Cheddar. Continue stirring until cheeses are melted and mixture is nice and smooth.
Next stir in the 1/3 cup of Wing sauce. When pasta is done, drain and return it to the pot and stir in chicken and sauce. Lightly grease a 9X13 baking dish and pour in macaroni and cheese. For the topping- crush up about a 10-12 Ritz Crackers and sprinkle on top. Top with remaider of shredded Cheddar and Monterrey Jack. Bake 20-25 minutes at 375.
You can drizzle the macaroni and cheese with a little more wing sauce and a little ranch dressing. I served this with carrots and celery and blue cheese dressing. DELICIOUS!

This recipe was featured in Two Magical Moms March Menu Madness and our Appetizing April Menu.  Check out the menus and try out some of our other YUMMY recipes!

Spicy Bacon Carbonara

This recipe is a variation on something that I made before, but this one is MUCH better. My family has actually requested it be put on the menu again and I just made it last week! My oldest son, who is VERY picky, loves bacon so I was able to get him to eat it too!
Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
• 2/3 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• Parsley Flakes (I didn't measure, I just shook it a couple times)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 lb bacon fried crisp and crumbled
• sliced mushrooms (I didn't measure, I just through in a couple handfuls)
• 1/2 of small onion
• about 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic
• 1 16 oz box of fettucini

First I cook and crumble the bacon. I have to do this quickly so that my son doesn't try to sneak any! Set bacon aside. Start water for pasta. Next I chop the onion. I am not a huge onion fan, but I do understand the flavor value of onion in cooking so I do use them. I cook the onion and minced garlic in about a tablespoon of butter, but you could use some of the bacon grease for extra flavor. When the onions are almost cooked all the way through I add the mushrooms. You might need to add just a little bit more butter to saute the mushrooms. When done, leave them in pan but set them aside

Next, in a bowl beat with a fork eggs and heavy cream. Add Parmesan, parsley, salt and red pepper and lightly mix again.

Drain pasta (save about 3 tablespoons of pasta water just in case sauce is too thick) and return pasta to pot. Add the mushrooms and onions to pasta (you may need to heat them up in their pan first depending on how long you had to wait for pasta to finish cooking). Pour the egg/cream mixture over the pasta. Stir over LOW heat for 2-3 minutes.

Stir in bacon. Top with additional Parmesan Cheese and serve with bread and a salad! DELICIOUS!
Note: Make sure that when you add the egg/cream mixture that you have the stove on LOW. You do not want to scramble the eggs! I was very worried about this process. The first time I made it I actually made my husband leave the room just in case I completely ruined dinner I didn't want him to witness my failure. It has gone together perfectly every time! Also, if you like less spicy food you can add less red pepper flakes.

This recipe was featured in Two Magical Moms March Menu Madness and our Appetizing April Menu.  Check out the menus and try out some of our other YUMMY recipes!