I'm Back!

Hi! Hello! How've ya been? Did you miss me? Did you even notice I was gone? Now, I realize it's Monday, and we're supposed to be talking literature around here, but let's pretend it's Friday and do a little catching up. I feel like we need to get reacquainted. 

First of all, lest you think I'm like, the laziest, most neglectful blogger alive, we have been in the process of switching internet service providers and my laptop didn't take to the switch too well. So I was pretty much internet-less all last week except for on my phone, and, let's get real: ain't nobody got time for trying to blog from my phone. I don't know how anyone does it, but those people are amazing and unendingly patient. (I'm lookin' at you, Lynds.) And speaking of Smart Phones, I'm getting used to mine except I miss having actual buttons to press. I've decided touch screens are for the birds and texting takes forever now. I'm not even being dramatic about it at all. Anyway, our new internet is way faster and my laptop finally got on board so we're good now.

Now that you know the technical reasons behind my radio silence last week, I'll be straight with you and tell you why I really dropped off the grid. My hubby turned 25! And he requested homemade apple pie and brownies. Brownies I can whip up fairly quickly but my apple pie is a pretty big endeavor which involves making a mess of the entire house. Totally worth it though when you get this:

I mean, amiright? It's totally fine if you're drooling at the screen right now. 

He also requested steak-green-pepper-and-onion-kabobs from Publix (which he actually grilled himself because this white girl does not operate that kinda heavy machinery) and macaroni-n-cheese (totally in my wheelhouse) which led me to try out a new recipe which I've decided to share with you now because Holy Wow, it was that good. Do yourself a favor, throw your diets to the wind, and go make yourself a pan of this cheesy goodness.

To start off, this is The Best Ever cookbook and my go-to for any and all delicious recipes. Thus, I give you Macaroni and Cheese, page 398.

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (7 oz)

1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups milk

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cook macaroni as directed on package.

3. While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheese until melted.

4. Drain macaroni. Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

I followed the directions 100% except right before I popped it in the oven, I dumped sprinkled more cheddar on top. Y'all. Make it and get ready for a party in your mouth. It's definitely the best mac-n-cheese I've ever made, and I've tried my fair share of recipes. You're welcome.

Colonel's Corner

Check this guy out. I've taught him how to pose for the camera perfectly. He's a genius.

Ok fine. 

The truth is: Cody was standing right there making him stay so I could take a picture to send to my sister for her birthday. He fears Cody's wrath so he listens to him. (Can't you see that abject submission in his eyes?)

But isn't he just the sweetest thing you ever did see?

The fun new thing with this guy is that he follows Diddy and Dixie across the TV while I'm playing Donkey Kong. (Yes, Donkey Kong Country 2 on my old-school SuperNintendo.) He's seriously riveted to the screen anytime I'm playing and it's hilarious.

If you've been here long enough, you are acquainted with my ChapStick addiction and yesterday, my sister-in-love gave me this new one. It's the best. 

She loves me. She gets me. 

Either that or she's angling for some future babysitting favors. As if she needed to.

In fact, she will be dropping my favorite youngest niece off here in a couple hours and I can't wait.

There we are circa May 2011. I love us. Thanks for my new favorite, Lyndsey!! It's totally sitting less than two feet away from me as I type this because you know, I need to reapply every 9 seconds or so.

Anyway, I think we're about caught up on all the exciting stuff in my life (oh quit judging me because I think ChapStick and new recipes are exciting), except I didn't tell you that we got a humongous new TV because my husband says I shouldn't put stuff like that on the interwebs because strangers will try to rob us or something. I promise someday we'll talk books again. In fact, Christy should totally be arriving THIS WEEKEND, y'all! Which will either mean a super-giddy recap next Monday or more blog silence because I'm still poring over every single word or pacing down by my mailbox if for some horrifying reason it hasn't come yet.  

What's going on in your life lately? Oh and P.S. I've totally been jamming to Cheerleader by OMI lately. Yes. Yes I have.