Rachel Ray's Super Nachos

These are the best homemade cheese sauce nachos we have ever had, and they get a 9 around here.  I found the recipe at foodnetwork.com, and here is the original.  I made a few changes, so I will post the recipe the way I made it.  Each serving was 620, and we had 10 servings.

1 1/2 bags tortillas chips

Pico De Gallo

1 lb ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 t salt
1 1/2 t chili powder
1 1/2 t cumin
1/4-1/2 t cayenne pepper
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 T butter
2 T flour
2 c milk
1 lb pepper jack and cheddar cheese mixture (I used mostly pepper jack)

Toppings to taste

Brown the beef over medium heat, then add in the onion, garlic, and seasonings.  Cook until beef is completely browned, then add in the black beans.  Turn the heat to low while you make the cheese sauce.  Melt the butter, then whisk in the flour, then whisk in the milk.  Add in the cheese slowly, then stir until all the cheese is melted.  Serve.

Rachel Ray's Genovese Style Red Sauce

Merry Christmas!  Although this isn't a Christmas meal, this is definitely a delicious, low fuss meal to feed a crowd, or just have lots of left overs for the week.

I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com, and here is the link.  Each serving with the pasta (I only used 1/2 pound instead of a full pound of pasta) is 401 calories, and Aaron and I gave this a 9 while the boys gave it an 8.  They felt like there was too much meat in it, not something that deters Aaron and me :).  Anyway, I followed the recipe exactly, and it is delicious.  I hope you have a wonderful holiday, we are doing prime rib here, my first time, so we'll see how it goes ;).  

Rachel Ray's Bacon Burger Mac N Cheese

So I love macaroni and cheese, and we were watching some Rachel Ray episodes on Netflix, and Aaron said he was interested in trying this.  Aaron interested in homemade macaroni and cheese?  Heck yes :).  So I made this the next night, and it was a hit at our house.  We all gave this a 9, and while it doesn't really taste like mac n cheese, it does taste like a bacon burger, so win there, and Aaron really liked it, so win win :).  I found the recipe here, and I followed it pretty closely.  Here's what I did, and each serving was 572 calories for 12 servings.

1 lb elbow macaroni
salt
12 slices bacon, chopped
4 T reserved bacon fat
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 c beef broth
3 T Worcestershire sauce
6 T butter
5 T flour
3 c milk
4 1/2 c sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 c ketchup
about 1/4 c mustard (more or less to taste)
2 T sweet pickle relish
1 T hot sauce (I used a little less Tabasco)

Top with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, some reserved bacon, and/or pickles

Cook the pasta in well salted water, then drain and set aside.
Cook the bacon until crisp, then when finished cooking remove to a papertowel lined plate.  If you have more than 1/4 c bacon grease, remove some of it.  Add the ground beef, then add in the onions and season with salt and pepper.  Cook until the beef is cooked and the onion is softened, then add in the broth and Worcestershire and reduce the heat to low.
In a large pot, make a roux with the butter and flour, then add in the milk, whisking the entire time.  Season well, then add in the cheese, and stir until melted.  Add in the ketchup, mustard, relish and hot sauce.  Combine this with the pasta, then combine that with the meat and most of the bacon (or all the bacon if you don't want any to sprinkle on top).  Serve with desired garnishes.