4 Cheese with Bacon Mac

Ingredients:

• 1 box (1lb) cavatappi or macaroni
• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1/2 teaspoon onion flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 8 slices American Cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350
• Coat a 3 quart broiler safe baking dish with nonstick spray
• Cook your pasta and drain
• Cook bacon in a medium saucepan until crisp
• Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain
• Pour off all drippings except 2 tablespoons
• Add butter to bacon drippings
• Whisk in flour until smooth
• In a thin stream whisk in milk
• Stir in onion flakes, salt and pepper
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes
• In a large bowl toss together cheddar, colby jack, mozzarella
• Remove milk mixture from heat, whisk in American cheese and 1 1/4 cup of cheese mixture
• Toss bacon in with remaining cheese mixture
• In pasta pot combine cooked pasta and cheese sauce
• Pour half into prepared dish
• Sprinkle with a generous cup of cheese and bacon mixture
• Repeat layering
• Bake at 350 for 20 minutes
• Increase oven temp to broil and broil 3 minutes until top is lightly browned.

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this was delicious. it made so much. we had tons of left overs. it was good as a main dish but my husband would have preferred it as a side!

Pistachio Cake

Ingredients:
1 pkg white cake mix
3/4 c vegetable oil
1 c lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
3 eggs
2 pkgs of instant pistachio pudding mix
2 envelopes whipped topping mix (i used Dream Whip brand)
1 1/2 c milk

Directions:
1. Beat cake mix, oil, soda, eggs, and 1 pkg of pudding mix until smooth. Pour batter into greased 9x13 pan.

2. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes, or until cake tests done.

3. Beat whipped topping mix, milk, and the other pkg of pudding mix until stiff.

4. Pour over cooled cake, Refrigerate.
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I made this cake for my uncle for his birthday per his request. My grandma used to make it for him all the time. So needless to say there was a lot of pressure for this to turn out good. It was actually very good. It doesn't taste like pistachios or at least I didn't think so. Delicious for sure!

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ingredients:
1/2 gallon chocolate ice cream (in a brick form)
1 container of marshmallow cream
1 container of chocolate icing
1 pkg of graham crackers, halved

Directions:
1. Spread chocolate icing on one half of the graham cracker.

2. Spread marshmallow cream on the other half of the graham cracker.

3. Undo the paper packaging around the ice cream. Cut ice cream in to 1inch by 2inch pieces.

4. Place on top of the frosted cracker then place the marshmallow covered cracker on the top.

5. Put in freezer for 2 hours.

6. Once they are firm either wrap each sandwich individually in tin foil or just enjoy!
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Hopefully this recipe makes sense. I am sure the pictures will help. It is so easy, fast, and inexpensive!

Thick and Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

(the mac and cheese is actually more yellow than the picture makes it look)

Ingredients:
1 can Campbell's condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
1/2 soup can of milk
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 c bread crumbs
2 tsp butter, melted
2 c cooked, hot noodles (elbow noodles recommended)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Boil water. Cook noodles. Drain.

3. In a 1qt baking dish, mix soup, milk, pepper, and noodles.

4. In a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs and butter. Sprinkle on top of noodles.

5. Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through.
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This recipe was delicious. It was like a good ol' southern mac and cheese. This only makes 2 cups though which was perfect for just my husband and I so you may want to double the recipe.

Pizza Rolls

Ingredients:
1 can of refrigerated pizza crust
1 bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 bag of large pepperonis
basil
oregano
garlic powder
optional: marinara for dipping

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Roll out pizza dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Place pepperonis into 3 rows. Sprinkle with spices as desired. It should look like this except I didn't use fresh basil.
3. Roll as tight as possible from the long side. After spread a little bit of water along the edge to create a seal.

4. Cut into 3/4'' rounds and place onto a foil covered cookie sheet. Similar to how you cut a cinnamon roll.

5. Bake for 10 minutes. Do not over cook!!
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I made these for my sisters birthday and individually wrapped them. I placed them on a cupcake rack and used it as a centerpiece. Not only did it look cute but tasted amazing!

Strawberry Upside Down Cake

Ingredients:
2 c crushed fresh strawberries
1 6oz pkg strawberry flavored gelatin mix
3 c mini marshmallows
1 18oz pkg yellow cake mix batter prepared as directed on pkg
(need oil, water, and 3 eggs for cake batter)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Spread crushed strawberries on the bottom of a 9x13 inch non greased baking pan. Evenly sprinkle strawberries with the dry gelatin powder. Top with marshmallows.

3. Prepare cake batter as directed on pkg. Pour on to the top of marshmallows.

4. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle.

5. Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges to loosen the sides from the pan. Turn the cake out on to serving platter. Store in fridge.
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This was a very cheap dessert and very little ingredients. I chopped my strawberries pretty small instead of crushed. It was a hit for our 4 of July BBQ!

Jalapeno Popper Dogs

Ingredients:
8 Hotdogs
8 Buns
2 jalapenos
8 slices of bacon
2 tbsp butter
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
salt and pepper
1 rounded tbsp flour
1 1/2 c milk
1/2 c shredded pepper jack
3/4 c shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings: sliced jalapenos, mustard, onions, tomatoes, chopped deli pickle

Directions:
1. Place hot dogs in simmering water to plump and heat through. Can be grilled too if you like them crispy.

2. Fry bacon in a skillet. Set out to drain.

3.While the dogs heat, place a pot over medium heat. Melt butter then add peppers and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to liking. Cook 2-3 minutes then sprinkle with flour and cook for 1 more minute. Whisk in milk and let thicken. Melt in cheeses, stir constantly. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

4. Put dogs in bun add a slice of bacon. Top with cheese sauce and optional other toppings!!
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This meal was way too good to be true. I toasted my buns in the oven under the broiler for the extra crisp. Also don't be in a rush to add the cheese to the milk mixture. The milk needs to thicken. Mine was a little running but all tasted the same going down!!