This little boy wrinkles his nose at the word dinner.
He sometimes asks what’s for dinner, but usually just hears “dinner” and says “I don’t like that.” His sister is the opposite, often discovering a like/love for foods, simply because the phrase “just try it” is ingrained in her. While the school system might not always work, a preschool fruit and vegetables intro program and an elementary school focus on making healthy food choices have really impacted her. She doesn’t love everything, but she almost always tries dinner.
Every night, I face a delicate balance at dinner time. We have a firm rule that we only offer one option for dinner. The exception is something exotic or spicy, but I generally make different options. I recognize that I can’t please everyone every meal, but a part of me always wants to. My kids want simple flavors and visuals. Make it too complex looking and you’ve lost them. My husband, who honestly eats anything without complaint, would prefer more complex dishes with a bit of a kick to them. Then there’s our toddler who would prefer finger foods disguised as “snacks.” As for me, I want it to taste delicious, but not take forever to make.
I’ve learned to experiment, adapt recipes using what I have, and play with flavors. Sometimes I get it right and other nights, well, there’s dinner on the table. We have some tried and true favorites and simple go-to meals, but I get bored cooking them. I also tire of the standard flavor combinations.
Last night, I decided I wanted to use bacon, but not mix it with the standard broccoli and cheese, breakfast items, or my sausage dish. For some reason, bacon mac and cheese interested me, but we didn’t have cheddar cheese. I googled “Colby Jack Mac and Cheese” and came across this No Frills Mac & Cheese recipe from Kevin & Amanda. Using this recipe as a starting point, I created my own pasta-bacon concoction.
This is a quick meal to make, rich, creamy, and delicious. Adjust and add seasonings depending on your tastes. When I took my first bite of this straight out of the oven, I thought it tasted a bit like heaven.Unfortunately, my picky eater preferred regular mac and cheese, but you can’t win them all.
Guide
|
½ lb. bacon (or to taste)
2 cups pasta (try campanelle or penne)
2 cups shredded Colby Jack Cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons butter, cut into 8 squares
1 cup whipping cream
|
For Bread Crumb Topping
(Optional)
2 slices bread
1 tablespoon melted butter
Pinch of salt
Pinch of Pepper
|
with aluminum foil. Put bacon in oven and set oven to 400 degrees. Cook bacon
(it will cook while the oven preheats) for 20 to 25 minutes or until crispy.
Leave oven on 400 degrees. When crisp,
remove bacon from oven and soak up grease with paper towels. Put in a food
processer and create bacon crumbles.
pasta, then drain.
placing 2 slices of bread in food processor with salt, pepper, and melted
butter. Pulse 2 to 3 times to create a fine bread crumb topping.
non-stick spray or coat with butter. Layer 1 cup of pasta in the dish. Lay 4
pieces of butter evenly over pasta. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon
pepper. Sprinkle on half of the bacon. Layer with 1 cup of cheese. Layer with remaining pasta and repeat
process. Pour 1 cup of whipping cream over layers, making sure to add
throughout dish. Spread bread crumb topping evenly over dish.
for 30 minutes, checking and turning bread crumb topping halfway through. Cream
should be cooked through and cheese should be melted when done. Let cool a few minutes, serve, and enjoy!
“fancy.” You could also go with a quick fruit salad with any fruit you have on hand, remembering that a little fruit goes a long way. I like to add a container of yogurt and a dollop or two of extra creamy cool whip.
That sounds delicious! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
YUM! I love bacon and mac and cheese! Looks delish!
This sounds amazing! My son is only 7 months so it’s a bit early for this, but I know he will love it later on! Great way to treat those picky eaters! Hope mine isn’t one!
This recipe looks very tasty. Thanks for sharing!