New Recipe Night

While I'm not really a believer in new year's resolutions, I do try to change things up a bit at the start of a new year. I think resolutions put too much pressure on us. We can try our hardest, but sometimes circumstances beyond our control prevent us from keeping them, then we spend too much time beating ourselves up. So at the beginning of each year I simply look at things in my life I can improve on and keep them in the forefront of my mind striving to do better. One of mine in 2011 is to attempt a new recipe at least once per week. I love trying to new things, but like most moms/wives out there I get into ruts cooking the same things over and over. Most of the time reason being b/c of lack of time-I'm in a rush so I head straight for the "go to" recipe that I know is a crowd pleaser, quick and simple. So I'm going to try really hard to keep my promise to myself and try something new one night each week, and hopefully get some "keeper" recipes out of it. This week we are actually doing 2, the first of which is tonight. I got a new cook book for Christmas Better Homes and Gardens Super Market Shortcuts and it is amazing. It is broken down into sections w/ each having a store bought ingredient as a main component of the recipes. Tonight's star: Boxed Mac and Cheese :-) I know everyone has the favorite kind of mac and cheese; and I love home made; but sometimes you just need a good 'ole box of Kraft. And this takes that to a whole new level. I know Alex is excited to try it, so I'm hoping it tastes as good as it sounds!

Pizza-Style Mac and Cheese
1 7.25 oz box mac and cheese dinner mix
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 6 oz can/jar chopped mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup chopped black olives (I bought sliced)
1/4 cup chopped pepperoni
Parmesan cheese

Prepare dinner mix with butter and milk according to package directions. Stir pizza sauce into mixture. Stir in mushrooms, olives and pepperoni. Heat through. Sprinkle servings w/ Parmesan.

*I am doubling this recipe for our family*