My Favorite Mac and Cheese Recipe

Macaroni and cheese is the perfect comfort food! So warm and gooey, salty with a little bite. This is my favorite and my family's favorite mac and cheese recipe. It is THE BEST! I guess you could say that makes this the perfect perfect comfort food!

I got a couple of recipes for this yummy goodness, and added a little of my own, so I guess you could say this is my recipe. At least that's what my Momma would say!

Tamara's Mac and Cheese

16 oz. elbow macaroni, cooked and drained

1/2 t. salt

1/4 c. butter (the real stuff!)

1/4 c. flour

2 c. milk (2% or whole is best)

8 oz. brick of extra sharp cheddar cheese, cubed

Melt butter with salt on medium heat. Add flour and stir until smooth. (be careful not to burn the butter). Turn to low heat and add milk. Stir constantly until boiling. After it starts to boil, stir for about one more minute, so it coats the spoon when you lift it out. Remove from heat, and add cubes of cheese. Stir until melted.

Stir macaroni noodles with the your cheese sauce and place in a 1.5 or 2 qt baking dish. Bake in 375 F for 30-35 minutes, and your done!

I like to serve this with warm yeast rolls and green beans, or a salad. Let me know if you like it!

Galveston!!!

Josh and I had the GREAT privilege to go visit Ben and Emily in Texas a few weeks ago. The aunties in Indiana graciously looked after our three kiddos as we went for a great time of relaxing. We got to see the hospital where Emily works, and help set up Ben's new classroom for the year. They took us out for some wonderful Mexican food and more, and we vegged out watching episode after episode of The Office. Josh and Ben got some time in at the range while Emily pampered me with a mani/pedi. It was a very fun time.

One morning we took a trip to Galveston. This is a beautiful place! It was so very hot (really? August in Texas? Um, YEAH.) so we only stayed for the morning. We walked around, ate at the best restaurant I have ever been to, and drove around looking at these castle size houses. It was especially neat to see how this town has rebuilt since Hurricane Ike which destroyed so much down there.

This was a great visit, but what made it the best was Ben and Emily. They were so much fun to be with, and so completely hospitable and just super easy going. SUCH a fun time! I also never realized how much Josh and Ben are alike. I know they are brothers, so there is a little to be expected, but it was just cracking me up to see how very similar they are, even with little things. :)

Taking a walk in Galveston. It was too hot to hold hands. You could only hold pinkies. :)

All of the buildings down there have these rich details. It was really beautiful.

Emily driving us around.

These mark the waterlines of different hurricanes they have had in Galveston. The one at the top that Josh is pointing at was Hurricane Ike!

Don't we look so warm? It was more humid than I can describe.

This is the Mosquito Cafe. Best place ever. Eat there if you are ever in Galveston. Trust me!

One of the many cool castle/mansion places down there.

Happy Campers

I took another unexpected blogging break! Josh and I did some traveling(which I will share about soon), and then my back had the audacity to go out on me again. It didn't even ask! Can you believe that? After a week of lying around, daily chiropractor appointments, and wonderful pain meds, I am happy to say I am on the mend. I wish I could say I was completely better, but that will have to wait for another time. I do want to share more of our summer with you though!

Last month we decided to take the family camping at Warren Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan. What a wonderful time it was! We couldn't have asked for better beach weather. Lake Michigan was 75 degrees! We basically spent all day, every day at the beach, which is just how we like it. :)

We were able to borrow our friend's camper which was so nice. Josh reserved a spot online, so we were not sure what it would look like. It turned out to be a very big spot. We drove around and scoped out some of the better spots for next year if we decide to go there again.

It was so fun to be at a place where the girls were all old enough to really enjoy camping. Emma was a huge helper! She always wanted to be doing something. Josie and Addie were VERY dirty, but who cares! That's part of camping, right?

One of the sand dunes, with the moon showing itself.

This was our campsite. It was HUGE!

Josie all smiles at the beach.

Emma working on a mote for their castle.