A Little Comfort Food, A Little Bargain Hunting and A Blogging Friend's Success

     I wish I could tell you that these beautiful blue flowers are in my yard. They aren't. They were actually at my local grocery store in huge pots. I didn't buy them because they don't match anything I have on my porch or deck, but I fell in love with the color and just had to share them.

     I finally found a desk at a neighborhood garage sale. I want to replace my one drawer desk and my dad loves having a project to work on while he is here. It was $15 and it came with the hutch top which I won't use with the desk because I don't want to block my window view.

I am going to use the hutch in my dish room once it is painted.

I'll keep you posted with the progress.

     I cook more when my dad is here. I also had the grandsons overnight on Saturday night. I decided to try a new recipe of an old favorite, Mac and Cheese. I got the recipe from the book Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle. Her Coffee House Mystery series is a favorite of mine.

Penne Mac & Cheese

1 pound dry penne pasta (cook according to package for al dente)

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup grated Monterey jack cheese

1 cup grated mild cheddar cheese

5 1/3 T. butter

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1/4 c. flour

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 cups whole milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees-grease 3 qt. casserole. Cook pasta, drain and put in casserole dish.

In separate bowl mix the three cheeses together. Set aside.

     Melt butter in saucepan. Remove from heat. Add salt, pepper, flour, Worcestershire sauce and stir until smooth. Gradually add milk. Return pan to stove and stir constantly over medium heat until mixture boils. Reduce heat and stir until sauce thickens.

     Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 of the cheese mixture. Stir until smooth and pour over the pasta. Do not stir the pasta and sauce. I did have to press on the pasta a little bit to force a little of the sauce down into the casserole dish so it would overflow.

Top with the remaining cheese.

Bake 20-25 minutes until brown and bubbly.

Enjoy...it is yummy.

One of my favorite blog friends is Kat @ Low Tide High Style.

Kat not only loves the water the way I do, she has been a

very supportive friend to me and I'm sure to many others.

The current issue of Romantic Country is available right now.

I got mine at Wal-Mart.

See that...Kat's name in the magazine. She has a featured article...a must read!

Way to go Kat! How exciting!

I am joining today with:

 Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

Sally @ Smiling Sally for Blue Monday

 Mary @ Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Linda @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Please visit all of these lovely ladies and enjoy their blog events.