Three Cheese Penne (Macaroni)

Who doesn't LOVE Mac and Cheese?  There are already several mac and cheese recipes on this blog: Baked Mac & Cheese, Another Mac & Cheese, Crock Pot Mac & Cheese and Healthy Mac & Cheese.  That just goes to show that it is the ULTIMATE comfort food.  With the fall months approaching I love burning my fall scented candles and breaking out the comfort food recipes.  There is something about fall that I adore...maybe the smells, maybe the clothes...I'm not sure, but it's my favorite time of year.

About six years ago I went on the hunt for the PERFECT mac and cheese.  I didn't want to hassle with making a white sauce or buying fancy ingredients.  I wanted something tasty and simple.  I came across this recipe and it is seriously a winner.  I've been making it every since and I have yet to serve it to someone who didn't absolutely LOVE it.  My dad claims to not even like mac and cheese, but requests this dish every time he visits.  I recently made this for a potluck BBQ and it was the only dish where the pan was completely and utterly empty.

The original recipe called for your standard macaroni noodle, but I like penne.  I like the cheese to fill the noodle so you get a perfect cheesy bite each time.

Makes 8-10 Side Dish Servings

Ingredients:

12 oz Penne Pasta or Macaroni if you desire

1 1/2 Cups Milk

1/4 Cup Butter, melted

1/2 tsp Ground White Pepper

1/4 tsp Salt

8 oz American Cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded (2 cups)

2 oz Mozzarella, shredded (1/2 Cup)

20 Ritz Crackers, crushed

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. In a large pot cook pasta according to directions, drain and return to pot.

2. Add milk, butter, pepper, and salt. Stir in Cheeses. Transfer to a greased 2 quart casserole dish.

3. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Carefully stir mixture. Sprinkle with crushed crackers and bake 5 more minutes or until crackers are browned and mixture is heated through. (Don't overcook or mixture will curdle) Let stand 10 minutes before serving.  Watch it disappear before your eyes.

Awesomeness

Last week my family and I went down to San Diego to go to Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailiey's Dragon show and it was amazing! I thought I would take a few minutes to post a few pictures. I will...eventually post a way more indepth post on my personal blog- of EVERYTHING we did down in SD...and lots of pictures of the circus. But, until then, here were some of our highlights of the day.

Early afternoon we went to a Big Cat event where we were able to meet Alexander Kacey himself, and his sweet daughter. He had an awesome accent. and was pretty young. and really nice. which, I was surprised at all of those. well, I guess the accent wasn't too surprising-- but I expected it to be more like Dundee's or an Irwin's Aussie accent. it was an elegant English. I think? haha. not to knowledgable on the accents.

His family, for generations has been breeding and training big cats like this. way cool. maybe they can adopt me?

kissy kissy.
look at those fangs.

Some of the cats have been bread for like 11 generations back. I just can't believe people do this as a living....I guess it makes sense, and someone's got to do it right?

Will even tried out the clown nose.

It was so bright we couldn't open our eyes, but it wasn't sunny!

1.2.3. everyone open their eyes!
ahh can't.

hours later was finally the performance. my kids were in heaven. Nate and I were very entertained.

Alexandar Kacey- sitting on a lion. (ha, or about to)

One of the female lions was pretty feisty. She kept swiping at him, and at one point backed him into a corner. Alexandar Kacey said "it was all part of the show' but I don't know. Nate certainly wasn't convinced it was part of the show. ..you can see here the cat starting to come onto him.

i.n.t.e.n.s.e.

jumping through fire. can you see the man- he is in the middle of the fire jumping through...

 Loved watching the elephants. aren't they just awesome creatures.

A man, early 20's, sitting next to me was almost more of an entertainment. he kept jumping up and gasping. hilarious.ESPECIALLY when the motorcyles came out, and they kept adding and adding more and more bikes. They got up to like 10 in this tiny ball. It was holdyourbreath crazy.

Ta. Da! All done. We honestly loved it. And if you get a coupon- it's like the same price as a movie ticket. maybe in some states less than a movie ticket and SO much more entertaining.