Lessons From Momma

May is the month that we honor our Mother’s. As I think about my Mom although she is in Heaven , one of the things that stood out most to me about her (like so many other’s) is how good she could cook. Also how she fed a family of five and fed us well! She absolutely loved to entertain and she made sure every birthday and every holiday was celebrated with a good meal. My favorite Birthday meal was Honey Bbq Fried chicken, Macaroni & Cheese and String beans.

My Mom and both my Grandmothers all started me out early learning how to cook. Honestly like I mentioned before at first I really wasn’t interested. One of the reasons I wasn’t interested honestly is because , secretly I felt like my Mom was working herself to death during the holidays and I didn’t feel like her family and friends truly appreciated everything she did for us . Again secretly I vowed to never be like her in that aspect . I remember Thanksgiving was huge at our house. She would stay up all night preparing this feast for everyone. Then once the guests arrived she was entertaining and making sure everyone was good. I’m sure she ate at some point but honestly I don’t have a memory of her sitting down to eat.Nevertheless she did teach me to cook. I quickly realized like the rest of my siblings that if I was going to eat I was going to learn to cook.

So as a very little girl the only thing I wanted t eat was macaroni and cheese. But of course like most toddlers and small children I initially preferred Kraft over the good homemade baked stuff. By the time I was a teenager I loved her homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe. So she taught it to me along with many other delicious recipes that I will share with you throughout our journey together.For Mother’s Day though , I will honor her by sharing my favorite Birthday dinner recipe. You will see in in the picture a guest appearance of bbq spare ribs. That was added by my friend as a surprise for Mother’s Day. Don’t worry we will get him to share his story and recipe in the next issue. Today’s recipes that will be featured are Mama’s baked Mac and Cheese, Mama’s BBQ Fried Chicken, and My Own Stove Top White Mac and Cheese.

Recipes

Mama’s Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

Half Box Elbow Noodles

Garlic Seasoning

Onion Powder

Salt

8oz Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

8oz Kraft Creamy Melt Triple Cheddar Cheese

Half Stick Butter

Can of Campbells Cheddar Cheese Soup

8oz

Ragu Cheddar Cheese Sauce

Milk

Heavy Whipping Cream

2 Eggs

Large Bread Baking Pan

Directions: Season water for elbow noodles. Boil elbow noddles until they are el dente. Drain noodles. Place them in the baking pan. Add salted butter. Whip two eggs and add to the noodle . Mix it together. Add in the can of Campbells Cheddar Cheese Soup. Add 8 oz of the Ragu Cheddar Cheese. Mix together. Add in shredded cheddar cheese and Kraft Creamy Melt Triple cheddar. Stir together. Quilt with milk and heavy whipping cream. Bake on 375F for 45 minutes.

Mama’s BBQ Fried Chicken

Ingredients

1 pack of Chicken legs or Wings

Kraft original BBQ Sauce

Vegetable Oil

Buttermilk

Salt

Pepper

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

Cajun Seasoning

Paprika

Honey

Directions Season Chicken . Pour buttermilk in sealable bowl. Add in chicken. Soak over night . Fry Chicken. Drain Grease. Mix BBQ Sauce with honey. Place Chicken in baking pan. Coat with sauce. Bake on 320F for 40 mins.

Nikki’s Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Corkscrew Pasta

1/4 cup Salted Butter

8oz Whole Milk

8oz Heavy Whipping Cream

8oz Shredded Asiago Cheese

8 oz White Cheddar

8oz Gouda Cheese

Plain Breadcrumbs

Directions: Cook Pasta until it’s el dente. Make rue starting with heavy whipping cream. Add in whole milk and butter slowly add in cheese whipping it on low heat so it melts and does not clump together. Once the Rue is creamy add in pasta. If you want breadcrumbs on top place a pat of butter in a pan. Cook breadcrumbs in butter for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle on top of macaroni and cheese.