Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

I make Crock Pot Mac and Cheese for just about every potluck I go to. It's easy and is usually a crowd pleaser. Today's was one of my personal favorites even though I only got a few pieces off of the bottom after everyone had been through the line tonight.

To achieve Crock Pot Mac and Cheese greatness, here's what you need:

*I typically double this recipe because I take it to large pot lucks

8 oz Uncooked Elbow Macaroni

1 1/2 c Milk

1 stick melted butter

3 c Shredded Cheese

2 Eggs, beaten

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook Elbow Macaroni to desired tenderness

Spray crock pot with cooking spray

Put all ingredients in the crock pot

Cook on low 3 -4 hours

Today, I used one bag of Mexican blend cheese because it was all I had left in the freezer. I think it actually added a little additional flavor with the spices already in the cheese.

I also used evaporated milk instead of regular milk because I didn't realize until I already had the macaroni in the crock pot that I had used all my milk yesterday! I think this helped it be a little more creamy and rich.

Try it for yourself and let me know what you think. Everyone raves about this every time I take it so I guess that means it's pretty good or else they don't eat good Mac and Cheese in El Paso!

26 Days of Thanks (18-20)

For these days, I'm thankful for...

18) A Girls' Night Out of sorts at the FBC Women's Ministry cooking demonstration. It was great fun and makes me remember why I tend to be a fairly social person.

19) Afternoon naps. I stayed up way too late Wednesday night so I was exhausted Thursday afternoon and somehow managed to take a nap on the couch while the boys played. I only had to wake up a few times to break up fights or get snacks.

20) Getting rid of stuff via a yard sale tomorrow! I'm loving the space I've created in just about every closet in the house. I just hope at some point I don't regret getting rid of all the things I'm going to attempt to sell.

26 Days of Thanks (16-17)

Here's the continuation of this set of posts.

16. I'm thankful the Lord provided me a job here in El Paso that I enjoy most days and has been challenging and eye opening all at the same time!

17. I'm thankful for the days of the week when we get to stay home and just hang out! These are also catch up days for all the things that don't get done the rest of the week.

I intend to post some pictures today, too. So come back and check again!

26 Days of Thanks (9-15)

Wow! A whole week. It's not that I haven't thought about adding to my list, it's just....days go by and my few seconds to do this just slip out of my hands! I'm catching up for a whole week today. Hold on because this could get lengthy. This was a happening kind of week.

9. I'm thankful for saving money with coupons on my weekly grocery shopping trips! It's so much fun to see the total go down, and down and down some more.

10. I'm thankful for our little MOPS group at FBC. We may be small, but we have a great time hanging out and trying to do life together.

11. I'm thankful to be married to a VETERAN. (11/11 was Veteran's Day) Since venturing into this whole Army thing, holidays like Veteran's day, Independence Day, etc. have taken on new meaning. I'm grateful for the opportunity to live life surrounded by men and women who play such a key role in keeping America safe and continuing to defend our freedom. I'm glad to get to honor my husband for being an amazing soldier and Godly example to every soldier with whom he comes into contact.

12. I'm thankful that Jenna Beth has been in our lives 6 months! (11/12 was Jenna Beth's 6 month birthday) She's such a delight and has everyone in this house already wrapped around her little finger. It's so much fun to see the boys interact with her and stop whatever they're doing to make sure she notices them. She smiles bigger at them than anyone else who tries to make her smile.

13. I'm thankful that God has provided for us in such a way that major car repairs aren't a huge financial burden.

14. I'm thankful for time alone! I love my kiddos, but mommy often needs to ride in the car alone and go places that they wouldn't really enjoy.

15. I'm thankful that we are part of a church family that loves and encourages us each time we walk through the door. Without their kind words and offers to help us, this year would've been even more difficult!

26 Days of Thanks (7-8)

Last week held some very rough days. So rough that once I almost emailed LT and told him I was ready to ditch this Army thing and go back to being a teacher's wife and work full time myself if I needed to. Inevitably this won't be the only time we face a deployment and though the kids will be older and circumstances probably different, it will still be a deployment - a year of separation.

Here are my things I'm thankful for this week and explanations to follow:

7) The Lord is Faithful. He never lets go. He never gives up. He knows our needs and meets them according to His perfect will.

8) The Lord has called us to this life. When my thoughts of ditch this Army thing (my thoughts weren't that nice, I must confess) came to my mind, I knew in my heart that if we really did ditch the Army, we would be missing out on the blessings and the purpose to which we were called. Though this career isn't the easy road, it's the best road and that's what matters. We're reading through a book called "In A Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day" By Mark Batterson (great read so far) and he brings out the fact that we always want the Lord to change our circumstances, to lighten our load, but that's not always what brings Him the most glory. Sometimes the most glory is given to God when we're in the pit, when we're fighting for our lives in the world's eyes! For me, it's when things are absolutely chaotic and orderless!

I was giving the boys a bath last night and was looking for the sails to a boat Bailey wanted to play with. As I was looking, God brought to mind an old Steven Curtis Chapman song - Burn the Ships. How like God to remind us at bathtime what He's called us to! The lyrics are below. The gist is that we've gotta let go of the things that seem much easier and pleasant and face what's ahead of us while fully relying on the power of the Risen Christ to get us through each day. He never promised they'd be easy days, but He has promised that He's always with us and gives us all sufficient grace to face whatever is thrown in our paths.

++++++++++++++
Burn the Ships

In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail

Cortez told his sailors this mission must not fail

On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams

But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak

Quietly they whispered, "Let's sail back to the life we knew"

But the one who led them there was saying

(Chorus)

Burn the ships, we're here to stay

There's no way we could go back

Now that we've come this far by faith

Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return

Our life is here So let the ships burn

In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail

Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail

On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy

But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy

Quietly he whispers, "Go back to the life you know"

But the one who led us here is saying

(Chorus)

BRIDGE

Nobody said it would be easy

But the one who brought us here

Is never gonna leave us alone

++++++++++++++++

My ships are burned!