Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Jillien's Side: Family Dinner Fun, CPK Macaroni and Cheese

Want to take the family out for dinner but just don’t have the time or the money? 

This is every night at my house.   We have gymnastics on Monday and Wednesdays, Baseball on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and homework every night.  And that’s just right now.  Other months we have to factor in football and basketball and Rylee Brook is wanting to start soccer…    And my life is probably not half as busy as yours!

Lucky for me a friend of mine feels the same way and we have figured out a great way to both slow things down AND keep things fun…

She is a wonderful cook and so is her husband.   Once or twice a week we get our two families together and between the 2 of them as “the cooks” and me and my husband as “the bbq-uers” we come up with creative ways to dish up family meals that we all look forward to each and every week. 

Sometimes the kids choose the theme, sometimes the adults choose the theme but we always do dishes that we would have ordered if we had gone out to a restaurant. 

So please tune in weekly for our "Family Dinner Fun." Make dinner easy (and fun, of course) with these easy restaurant-inspired recipes that you can make at home for your family and friends. 

This week's Family Dinner Fun recipe is inspired by one of my family's restaurant favorites.  

The “Macaroni And Cheese" from California Pizza Kitchen

Ingredients:
16 ounces pasta
8 ounces Velveeta cheese
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter (unsalted is best)

Directions:
Cook pasta in boiling water for 10 - 12 minutes.  (Please do not over cook, al dente is best).   While pasta is cooking cut Velveeta into cubes, then add to the cream and butter in a large saucepan over low heat, stirring often until melted.
Drain pasta and add to Velveeta mixture and stir. 

It’s creamy, cheesy goodness that we can enjoy anytime for a fraction of what it would cost if we went out and nobody has to take a shower before we go!

Enjoy! 
And check back next week for another Family Dinner Fun recipe. 
Jillien!

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