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ife is good right now ...
Last time I posted it was Sunday morning. Later in the day the hubby and I shopped and I had a hot dog for lunch. Sunday evening was spent at the hubby's Aunt Charmain's house. She made a lovely dinner (steak, stuffed potatoes, corn, salad, stuffed tomatoes, flat bread, red wine, cake and fruit, olives and cheese). The food was superb.
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This morning I had an orange and a glo-bar for breakfast:
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I also had a mini Cinnamon bun at work during our staff meeting.
Lunch was a piece of quiche, and a side salad from a restaurant called The Mediterranean Bistro.
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The kind people at CSN stores sent me some Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown stoneware dishes to try and review. I LOVE the look of these dishes! I instantly knew I wanted to try out a Rachel Ray recipe in them.
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Italian Mac and Cheese
(Slightly Adapted from Rachel Ray Recipe)
Ingredients
4 cups penne noodles
3 Italian sausages
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 T butter
4 cloves chopped garlic
2 cups crimini mushrooms, sliced
Salt and pepper
2 T flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 bag Italian 4 - cheese blend cheese
1 can diced tomatoes, drained well
1 tsp hot sauce (I used Frank's)
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Directions
- Cook pasta until el dente.
- Meanwhile, brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on paper towel lined plate. Use the same pan to heat the oil and butter. Add mushrooms, and brown. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pre-heat broiler (high)
- To the mushrooms, add flour and stir. Whisk in stock and cream. Bring to a bubble, and then add 2 cups of the cheese. When melted, add tomatoes & hot sauce. Toss with pasta & sausage.
- Transfer to a baking dish & top with remaining cheese. Broil until browned (3-4 minutes).
- Meanwhile, brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on paper towel lined plate. Use the same pan to heat the oil and butter. Add mushrooms, and brown. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pre-heat broiler (high)
- To the mushrooms, add flour and stir. Whisk in stock and cream. Bring to a bubble, and then add 2 cups of the cheese. When melted, add tomatoes & hot sauce. Toss with pasta & sausage.
- Transfer to a baking dish & top with remaining cheese. Broil until browned (3-4 minutes).
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I absolutely LOVE my Bubble and Browns! They are dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe. They look cool, and would work perfectly as serving dishes. I love having baking dishes that double as serving dishes. The mac and cheese browned perfectly. I like that the dishes are heavy duty, and won't warp with high heat. I cannot wait to use them again - there is nothing better than bubbly, brown, cheesey goodness!
Tomorrow (Tuesday June 29th) is your last day to enter my CSN $40 gift card giveaway! If you win, you could buy your own set (they come in other colours too) or whatever else you may want!
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Another new thing that I tried this evening ...
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A canary melon!
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It tasted like a canteloupy honeydoo.
I had a small bite, then juiced about a 1/4 of it with a grapefruit, and a red pepper:
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Have you ever tried a canary melon?
What is the most unique fruit you have tried?
Tomorrow is my last day of work (only 2.5 hours) before summer holidays begin!
I will have 2 months off - I am so excited!
18 comments:
Never heard of a canary melon before. Most unique I've tried is kiwi an pomengranite.
Wish I had 2 months off....enjoy!
I have never tried, nor have I heard of (before now) a canary melon! I am very interested now though.....
Unique fruit..... ummm.... I don't remember what it was called.... but it was a bit bitter and not good.... so i didn't want to ever have it again.
That was useless.... seeing as how I didn't know the name! haha
But favorites include strawberries, mangos, blackberries, raspberries, papayas, and many others! I love fruit!!
What a pretty table setting, stunning.
I have never tried canary melon. No idea what the most unique fruit I've had either... probably like a starfruit or something like that.
I can NOT believe that was a home cooked meal..look at all those delish looking sides and the time it probably took to prepare! you have a foodie family! the grossest smelling and hence oddest fruit is the duran!
Oh I love those new dishes!
I've never tried a canary melon, but it looks tasty! Happy last day of work!
those dishes look so pretty!! I'm a sucker for any dishware that's pretty, even if it's not functional.
I dont think I've tried any weird fruits....
no, and im not even sure ive ever heard of such a melon! wow!!
i think dragon fruit and prickly pears are the most interesting fruit ive tried :)
omg 2 months of freedom headed ur way... u DESERVE it!! <3
Ok those stuffed cherry tomatoes are calling my name! I've not tried many unique fruits to be honest. The kiwi may be as crazy as I've gotten ;-)
O was totally looking at those dishes the other day on CSN! I thought they were totally adorable. Glad to hear your vacatation time is here. Yay for a whole summer off!!
That Italian mac and cheese looks SOOO good!
I think the most exotic fruit I've tried is a persimmon or a fresh date.
yummmy!! I just had a cantaloupe that was mixed with a honeydo melon, but it looked different than that one!!
I LOVE those dishes!! :) So cute!
oooh those green dishes are awesome! I love them!
I don't think i've ever tried an unusual fruit! i tend to stick to the usuals;) but i'd LOVE to try a really rare fruit! i love fruit! (how many times can i say fruit in the one comment..?)
xx
I'm starving just looking at all of your great food.
Those dishes definitely get style points! I can't believe you haven't read the Harry Potter books! Put them on your summer reading list!
I have to say that your pictures are looking absolutely gorgeous these days. Also, that mac and cheese looks so melty and good!
I have had starfruit, lychee, golden mangoes, passionfruit...and that's all I can think of. I love bizarro fruits.
I'd say durian is the most unique fruit I've had....I'm not sure what is "unique" to people, though..because durian is "normal" to me! :-)
god, every of your pictures are making me droooool!
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