The Cookbook Junkies

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archives
  • The Junkie Shop

Spicy Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

April 21, 2017 by Jenny Hartin 3 Comments

Hello, Cookbook Junkies! I am back with a recipe for Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese which I made for Easter last week and a few friends asked for the recipe. I was quite happy with everything about this dish – the flavor, texture and spice level – and then to gild the lily – we have bacon!

Before I get to the recipe, I would like to share a bit about what I’ve been doing. Being the Cookbook Promotions Manager for Eat Your Books is taking the majority of my time and I am loving everything I am doing for Jane, Fiona and their team. I’m working at bringing new members to the site and sharing cookbook news and giveaways. Until the end of this year, using the code CBJ17, you can try Eat Your Books for three months and take advantage of all its services. Check it out.

The last few weeks I have been on a try new recipes kick – more so than usual. Here are a few of the things I’ve been creating in my kitchen.

Korean chicken with sweet-sour cucumbers and gochujang mayo from Diana Henry’s Simple – totally delicious

 

Pasta with chorizo and rosemary from CinCin – so elegant and simple – recipe, review and giveaway at Eat Your Books

 

Parmesan chicken with cauliflower from Diana Henry’s Simple – delicious, easy, one pan

 

Blood orange chicken from Melissa Clark’s Dinner Changing the Game – review and giveaway at Eat Your Books – incredibly flavorful, one pan and a hit

 

The Croque Monsieur battle Melts v. Milk. Made. – recipes, reviews and giveaway of both book and Cabot Cheese at Eat Your Books – both were incredible – but check out the post to see which sandwich was crowned the winner.

We have been eating well in the Hartin home. Now back to the Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese – for this recipe I used one eight ounce package of Cabot’s Seriously Sharp Cheddar and about three ounces of Cabot’s Hot Habanero and it was crazy spicy for my husband. I cooled it down by adding a half cup of sour cream and a half cup of cream to the finished product to make it more tame. If you like spicy, forego this addition.

Spicy Bacon Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients:

12 ounce package of elbow noodles, cooked three minutes less than package instructions

8 ounces of Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar, shredded

3 ounces of Cabot Hot Habanero, shredded

3 ounces of Cabot Cheddar of your choice for topping, shredded

1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon of onion powder (or 1/4 cup of sauteed onions)

Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper

4 slices of super crispy fried bacon, crumbled

2 tablespoons of butter or if you are brave bacon drippings (Lipitor shooter optional)

2 tablespoons of flour

1 tablespoon of stone ground mustard (I love Maille)

1 cup of milk, warmed (or more if needed), I microwave for 30 to 45 seconds

1/2 cup of sour cream (optional)

1/2 cup of heavy cream (optional)

Instructions:

Cook macaroni, three minutes less than package instructions. Drain and rinse.

In a heavy bottomed pan, melt butter or bacon drippings over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add warmed milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, spices, mustard and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is thickened. Add bacon to the cheese mixture. Taste cheese sauce – if too spicy add sour cream, try again. If still too spicy, add cream. (I did add one tablespoon of honey to the sauce mixture (to tame the heat) as well but not necessary.) Place macaroni in large broiler safe dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well. Top with about a handful of shredded cheddar.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 30 minutes. Last three or four minutes, I place under the broiler to brown it up.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Fiona’s Natural Foods – Blueberry Pancakes with Ginger Walnut Granola

January 29, 2017 by Jenny Hartin 2 Comments

20170114_110010

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a Sprouts Farmers Market event at Fiona’s Natural Foods. #brunchwithfionas Fiona’s is a natural food company in Longmont, Colorado. The name came from the original creator of the recipe – Fiona – a boulder mom who started making granola in her kitchen.

I have a love/hate relationship with granola. I love the flavor and texture but it is hard on my stomach. When one of the Fiona’s members, Natalia, mentioned that she had the same issue and now that their granola is made with pea and lentil flour – she doesn’t have a problem. I was hesitant but after three days of having a small bowl of granola – I’m safe and it is also the only granola on the market with 9 grams of protein per serving.

We took a tour of the facility and was so impressed with their set up. This is Natalia at the bagging station where she packaged up Almond Millet Granola for us to take home.

20170114_105441

After the tour, we headed to brunch where we enjoyed samples of Fiona’s granola. There was also a display of all their flavors and when Jarrett Eggers, co-owner of Skyway Foods and General Manager of Fiona’s Natural Foods, told us to take more home – I didn’t hesitate. I took seven bags of granola, one bag of oatmeal and trail mix. I have eaten three small bowls of this granola and  I have two half bags left of granola. The culprit on the disappearing granola is Andrew who has insisted on eating this granola almost every morning and lately for dinner.

This granola is great and the ginger walnut is my favorite. The best thing about this company – every purchase goes toward a donation to feed hungry children – a company that gives back. You can find out more about Fiona’s granola and how to order at their website.

20170114_110733

I was able to swipe the granola away from Andrew long enough to make these blueberry pancakes with ginger walnut granola. They were simple and delicious. I used my go-to pancake recipe and sprinkled the top of the pancake with granola and blueberries. The granola maintained some crunch and gave the pancakes a wonderful textural element.

20170118_163656

Special thanks to Sprouts Farmers Market and Fiona’s Natural Foods for this wonderful experience.

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

41,000 Member Celebration – Book Outlet Giveaway!

January 20, 2017 by Jenny Hartin 54 Comments

This site is not dead!

I’ve been so busy with my work at Eat Your Books and other assignments – I haven’t been able to do much of anything else. I hope to do more posting in 2017 now that the rush of Fall cookbooks is over. I’ll have a post up this weekend about some amazing blueberry granola pancakes made with Fiona’s Natural Foods granola. But until then….

book_outlet_logo

To celebrate 41,000 members in The Cookbook Junkies and my work at Eat Your Books – my friends at Book Outlet are offering four winners a $25.00 gift card to purchase cookbooks at their site – open to U.S. and Canada addresses! Book Outlet has the greatest deals on books period – but I visit them frequently for cookbooks. A bonus for everyone – they have set up a special code for you which is valid until March 31st — enter ICYWIT2017 and you will receive $5.00 off any purchase over $35.00. (Icywit is a nickname an old boss gave me.)

The giveaway is through Rafflecopter which should make your entries easier. Lots of chances. Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • …
  • 144
  • Next Page »

Follow Along

facebook instagram twitter pinterest Subscribe to Feed by email feed
Signup for our Newsletter

Search

Please visit our sponsors

Free Delivery on all Calendars at the Book Depository

About | Contact | The Junkie Shop | Privacy

@ 2013-2015 The Cookbook Junkies - All Rights Reserved