Gouda Mac

 Yickes it has been way to long since I last posted something, but last week I worked almost 80 hours between both jobs so I was just way to exhausted.  Well I love cheese so that would make mac n cheese one of my favorite foods of all time, of course I like to change it up a bit. When I first found a recipe that was for gouda mac n cheese. All together from starting to prep to you are stilling at the table it takes about 2 hours.  This can serve bout four people and makes great leftovers!

What you will need:

•  3/4 pound shell pasta

•  2 tablespoons olive oil

•  1 lb smoked turkey sausage (of course you can use normal smoked sausage)

•  1 can of artichoke

•  1 can of green chili

•  1 ½  tablespoons unsalted butter

•  3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

•  3 1/2 cups milk

•  2 bay leaves

•  1/2 white onion

•  Pinch of nutmeg

•  2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese

•  ½ cup of mozzarella

•  Salt and pepper (to taste)

what to do

1)    Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2)   Cook the pasta according to book, but only cook for about ¾ of the time it tells you.  Once pasta.  Once Pasta is done drain and run under cold water for the pasta stops cooking.  Put pasta in a glass-baking dish and toss with olive oil.

3)   Cut up the smoked sausage into bit size pieces and brown in pan.  Once browned to your liking toss in with noodles.

4)   Dump the can of green chilies info the noodles and chop up artichokes and toss with noodles.

5)   Add 1 ½ tablespoons of butter to pan and melt on low to medium heat. Still in the butter once butter is melted. Cook over low heat for about 2-3 minutes stirring often. Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly. Bring mixture to a simmer.

6)   Chop onion in large pieces and add to mixture along with bay leaves. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer for 20-30 sitting occasionally.

7)  stain the sauce a few times, and put back in and mix gouda until melted, add salt and pepper to taste. and miss in with noodles. Top with mozzarella cheese and cover with foil and place in over for 45 minutes.  Then remove foil and broil for 4 min to lightly golden the top.  All stoves are different so I would watch closely.

Once it is golden to your liking let it sit out for about 6 minutes and then it is ready to serve!!  Enjoy :) 

Tortellini & Sausage Salad

Made another recipe tonight that was super easy and very yummy! Even better…..makes great leftovers for our work lunches!!

What you will need to serve 4 (or two with leftovers!)  - I really don’t measure there are mostly guestaments….

-       2 Sliced red peppers

-       One bunch of asparagus  - cut into bite size

-       1 ½ Cups of edamame (frozen)

-       ½ chopped up onion

-       4 cheddar brats (can use really any kind of sausage, I had a bunch of these)

-       16 oz tortellini

-       2 cloves of garlic minced

-       ½ cup Italian Dressing

What do do….

1)   Boil a 2 pot of water on the stove, one large and one medium size.

2)   While you are waiting for the water to boil start cutting up your vegetables and sausage.

3)   When water boils place tortellini in large pot and cut up asparagus in small pot.  Just cook asparagus till they are bright green (about 3 min).   Then drain asparagus and run cold water over them so they stop cooking, and set aside.  Cook tortellini for about 7 minutes and then add edamame with tortilla for about 6 minutes.

4)   While those are cooking heat up a sauté pan (make sure its big) with some olive in it.  Put in the red pepper, garlic and onion. Cook for about4 minutes then add sausage and asparagus and cook for another 5-6 minutes. 

5)   Once tortilla and edamame are done drain well.

6)   Mix all ingredients together with the Italian Dressing

Then your done and ready to eat an amazing meal!!  Make sure you get a bite with everything because all the different flavors and textures are awesome together.  This time I actually took a picture.  

Grilled Salmon Sandwich

So I am all about easy recipe, working 2 jobs over 60 hours a week will do that to you.  I must say Pinterest in the most amazing creation ever!!!! J  It has helped me find ideas on things to make for dinner. For this sandwich in an hour I cook, we ate and cleaned!

What you will need to make a meal for two.

-          2 pieces of fresh salmon (I used 2 5 oz pieces).

-          2 rolls

-          Few slices of onion  (I prefer red onion)

-          Cajun Seasoning (you can also use blackening season)  

-          Spinach leaves (or lettuce)

-          Avocado mayo (see recipe posted before this one)

-          Few slices of a tomato

What you need to do.

1) I cut off the skin/scale part of the salmon, and then put the Cajun seasoning on both sides.  You can always do this earlier in the day and put it back in the fridge so it can sit in the seasoning longer. 

2) I love to grill but in my apartment we can not have grills so I use my George Forman Grill (worked great!).  Grill the salmon on both sides for about 8-11 minutes (depends on your grill and how think the salmon is). 

3) While salmon is grilling put together you sandwich.  I did lightly grill my rolls in the George Forman Grill.  Spread your mayo on the roll then layer spinach leaves, onion, and tomato. Once salmon is done place on top and then boom your set to go and dinner is ready!!

Avocado Mayo

So I made these Salmon sandwiches the other week, and learned of an awesome mayo!


Its super simple and takes no time to make, I don’t know how I have never thought of it before!


Its only 2 ingredients...


1 - Avocado


1/2 cup mayo


Mush up the avocado then mix in the mayo, you really can add how over much mayo you would like depending on how avocadoy you like it! Now I pretty much put this on all my sandwiches.

Tacos in a Crockpot!

Yesterday was taco night for us and it turned out great!

I found a recipe on Pinterest for chicken tacos made in a crockpot, and then I changed it around a little :)


Before I left for work I put in the crockpot...

1/2 jar of Salsa

1 lb. of boneless chicken

Half cut up onion

1/2 cup cream cheese (

1 packet of taco seasoning


I put the crockpot on low for about 9 hours....(I had a long day at work)

When I got home from work all I had to do is cut up some items and put together things I like in my taco. Then I just chopped of the chicken and boom we were ready to eat!  Also the sauce that is left in the crockpot is amazing, if I were you I would try it on the Tacos!


This recipe is for sure a keeper and I will be making it again soon!

First blog

So I thought I should start blogging :) As many of you know who are reading this, is that I LOVE  to cook! Now that I am living in my own apartment I am making dinner almost everything night.  I kinda make things as I go while cooking or find recipes and change them around a bit.  So I thought I would start sharing them in my down time.  So enjoy!