Magical Mac & "Cheese" (Dairy-free)

It's been about 2 years since I had to give up dairy due to my IBS.  Even though it's been worth it to avoid terrible stomach aches, I do miss some of my former favorite foods.  My list of favorites used to include lasagna, ice cream, and most of all... mac and cheese.  Homemade, Stouffers, out of a box... I'd take it anyway I could get it.  My mom would often make me a big pan of mac and cheese for my birthday each year. 

It had been over 2 years since I'd tasted my former favorite food.... until the other night.  The only difference is that this mac & cheese didn't give me a stomach ache for 24 hours after eating it.  This mac & cheese doesn't have any dairy in it at all but you could have fooled me.  It had that thick, creamy feel of the real thing.  It had noodles covered in a savory sauce.  It had crunchy, buttery breadcrumbs on top.  I looked forward to the leftovers as much as I had with the original.  While I wouldn't say this mac & "cheese" tastes exactly the same as the original, it's so darned close that I nearly cried when I took a bite.  I haven't been this excited about a meal/recipe in a long time.  It's like spending time with a good friend that you haven't seen in years.  Mac & cheese, oh, how I've missed you! 

 Charlotte, a fellow mac & cheese fiend, declared it "delicious"!  We named it Magical Mac & "Cheese" because it has butternut squash in it but you can't taste it at all.  Since Charlotte doesn't think she likes squash but she liked it in this dish, she thought that was magical. 

 Looks like cheese sauce, doesn't it? 

 Just before adding the buttery bread crumbs. 

Magical Mac & "Cheese" (adapted from this recipe) 

2 cups butternut squash puree (you can find it in the frozen food section or make your own)

2 tbsp Earth Balance (or other non-dairy butter replacer)

1 1/2  cup unsweetened & unflavoured almond milk

2 tbsp cornstarch

2/3 cup nutritional yeast flakes (find them at health food stores)

4 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt (or to taste) & ground black pepper, to taste

1 pound noodles of your choice, cooked and drained

1 cup panko bread crumbs

2-3 Tbsp. Earth Balance

Preheat oven to 375*.  Spray 9x13" pan with cooking spray. Put cooked noodles into the prepared pan.

Stir together the almond milk and the cornstarch to make a smooth slurry.  In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, stir together squash, Earth Balance, almond milk/cornstarch mixture, nutritional yeast, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the mixture gets thicker, resembling cheese sauce. 

Pour "cheese" sauce over the noodles in the pan and gently stir together to evenly distribute the sauce. 

Melt the remaining 2-3 Tbsp. of Earth Balance and mix it together with the bread crumbs.  Spread the buttery crumbs on the top of the noodles and "cheese".  Bake until the crumbs start to brown (about 20-30 minutes).

Weekly Chronicle - Summertime

 Our "tower of flower".   I didn't plant that sunflower.  It reseeded from last year sunflowers.  I've never seen so many blooms on one stem.  The plant is about 9 feet tall and has at least 30 flowers. 

 We recently bought a new bed.  We upgraded to a king size and it's be so nice.  The mattress is so comfortable that I sigh every time I get into bed each night.  It's a wonder I get out of bed at all in the morning. 

 The loot from one trip to the farmer's market.  We've been eating tons of fruit and vegetables lately. 

 We met some friends at the park one morning.  They found a good snack spot under the climbing wall.

 Is it me or does this cantaloupe have a tumor?

 Half of a huge watermelon that we ate last week.  My favorite watermelon variety so far this year as been Crimson Sweet.  So delicious!

 What?  Don't you cook dinner in a super hero cape and a bucket on your head?  I was having fun making the kids laugh by putting a bucket on my head and grandly proclaiming  that it was my helmet.  After all, you need a helmet when you're flying around being "Super Momma".  They thought I was hilarious... or nutty... not sure which one.

 Our dryer stopped working for some reason a few months ago.  We're not in a rush to fix it.  Jon's even admitted that he likes hanging up the wash.  I've always enjoyed it but this was just the push I needed to do it on a regular basis.  Nothing beats the smell of line dried clothes... not to mention the lower electric bill. 

 Charlotte bringing in her dry clothes.

We went to see a performance of "Cinderella" put on by the summer enrichment program locally.  I can't seem to take a serious picture of these kids lately. 

Camping 2012 - Part 3

One of the greatest things about camping is laying in a hammock.   We had to scramble at the last minute to buy new hammocks before we went camping.  Our old hammock was in terrible shape.  None of the local stores had hammocks in stock so I ordered from hammocks.com.  I was so glad to get them in time for camping. 

I cover my rope hammock with a blanket to make it more comfortable.  I have all my supplies so I don't have to get up unless it's really important.  Book - check.  Water - check.  Snack - check. 

Chris and Nikki laid in Mom's hammock that is equipped with it's own sun/rain cover hung by master tarp hanger, Mark. 

The kids spent many rest times in the shade near "hammock town" on a chaise lounge or a pool float. 

This day was the most perfect day.  Cool temperature, low humidity, clear sky, and a nice breeze.  I wish I was there right now.

One their last night camping, Jon introduced Chris and Nikki to the wonderful world of Mountain Pies.  You can see how excited they are. Using a pie iron, you created a toasty little sandwich, filled with all sorts of things, over the campfire.  Mountain Pies are a family tradition in Jon's family.  I had never heard of them until I met Jon.  They're really delicious.  Now that I can't eat dairy, grilled cheese and pizza mountain pies are out.  I need to come up with a great non-dairy mountain pie recipe for next year.

We sat out by the campfire and talked and made campfire food.... mountain pies and smores.  It was one of my favorite nights. 

The next morning, Jon made the kids toast and eggs over the campfire.

More hammock time.

The wood border made a great road for cars. 

We fed Canada Geese one morning.  They love hotdog buns, by the way.

Are they doing yoga stretches or digging in the dirt?

I did a lot of knitting and reading in a comfy chair by the water when I wasn't swimming or laying in the hammock. 

Panoramic of the view out into the lake from our cove.  Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Sheesh, did we ever get out of the hammocks??

I guess not.

It was a great week.  We were ready to come home though.  It's a lot of work to camp but it's sure worth it.  We dream of buying a camper one day because I've just about had my fill of tent camping.  The funny thing is that even though it's hard work at the time, it's absolutely worth it.  I can't wait to go back next year!

Camping 2012 - Part 2

The kids woke up EARLY each morning.  With the birds beginning their songs at 5:30, we were lucky to get to sleep until 6am.  They'd stay in their tent for a while but then they'd start their own singing (their original compositions are so funny!).  One morning we brought them into our tent to draw and color with the kit Nana gave them.  Charlotte's getting ready to tell me "I'm bored" in this picture.   I think my response was "Sorry 'bout your luck. Momma's reading". 

Even though this site didn't have much sand, they still dug great water ways in the clay/sand mix.

Midweek, the kids fell asleep in Nana and Grandpa's bed after lunch and slept for 3 hours! 

They really needed that nap.

Chris and Nikki hanging out in the hammock.

My camping "night side table". 

Jon likes to sleep on the ground when we camp (well, with blankets and egg crates under him.

Here's my bed.  It's a camp bed (kinda like a cot with springs around the edges).  It's pretty comfortable.

I'm thrilled that Charlotte loves reading as much as I do.  She's reading the Judy Blume "Super Fudge" series now. 

Evan loves books too. 

Jon finished the second half of "The Stand" by Stephen King.   That book is so thick that Evan could have used it as a booster seat.

One morning, Mark and Mom treated us to a breakfast feast.  I tell ya, they spoiled us.

Their new RV is so great.  It made our tents look prehistoric!

We found lots of these little, tiny toads that week.  They were so cute!

Mmmmmm.....

I'm suddenly hungry for breakfast. 

Look at my talented brother!  He can hold a jug of milk, ride a bike, and hold onto another bike all at the same time!  I want to see him balance something on his head next time.