Hey Kids!  Welcome to Thursday…the best day of the week! 

Well, Thursday used to be the best day of the week when I was young and in school and had not a care in the world.  In my adult world, Thursday means working eight hours and then teaching two hours of aerobics after and getting home just in time to go to sleep.

Seriously.  This whole ‘being an adult’ thing?  Noooo thank you.  I’m good.

Even though I just said that Thursday was the best day of the week like two seconds ago, I’m going to change my mind and say that yesterday was probably the best day of my week.

It was another Wednesday with my mom and it was definitely a good one!

I woke up at the crack of dawn and headed to her house because we had grand plans to go and put Christmas lights up at my grandparent’s house.  When we pulled in, we saw that my grandparents had already taken that task into their own hands and had the eight bushes in front of their house covered in lights.

Sweet!  That simply meant that there would be no work and all play…aaand breakfast made my grandma!  The eggs and toast that were served with love from my grandma’s heart really hit the spot!!  Oh, and did I mention that it was pouring down rain all morning and afternoon?  Another reason why I was in love with my grandparents for already having the lights up!

My dad is currently out of town until Sunday and Lee is currently working an awful night shift and was getting some zzzz’s yesterday afternoon, so my mom and I had the entire day to pretty much do whatever!  After our bellies were full, we decided to get some Christmas shopping done and pick up some groceries.  We finally made it home after trekking through the downpours while balancing grocery bags and umbrellas and settled in the house for a cozy night in.

We made mac n’ cheese, baked cookies, drank hot chocolate, looked at cookbooks, and chatted.
Pretty sure I couldn’t have planned a better day if I tried.

Oh.  And the mac n’ cheese my mom made?
Absolutely divine.

Double-Cheese Macaroni

(adapted from an old Taste of Home recipe)

Ingredients:

1 package (16 ounces) whole-wheat elbow macaroni

3 cups (24 ounces) 4% cottage cheese

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

3 cups half-and-half cream

1 cup milk

4 cups (16 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Cook macaroni according to package directions.  Meanwhile, place cottage cheese in a food processor; cover and process until smooth.  Set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter.  Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic salt until smooth.  Gradually add cream and milk.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Add cheddar cheese and cottage cheese and stir until cheddar cheese is mostly all melted.

Drain macaroni; transfer to a large bowl.  Add the cheese sauce and toss to coat.  Transfer to a greased 13×9 baking dish (dish will be full).

Bake, uncovered at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Yield: 12 servings

Cheesiest. Thing. Ever.

Do you prefer homemade mac n’ cheese or boxed mac n’ cheese?  I used to only eat boxed mac n’ cheese until a couple years ago!