Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

Buffalo Chicken Macaroni & Cheese
Buffalo Pulled Chicken
Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack & Blue Cheeses
with Homemade Sourdough Breadcrumb Crust

Start with a cup and a half each of shredded
extra sharp cheddar cheese and colby jack cheese.

Make the cheese sauce.
Melt butter, then add a tablespoon of flour.
Cook for a few minutes before adding milk.
Once milk is hot, add one cup of cheese at a time, stirring

with whisk until melted.

Stir in Greek yogurt. Add cooked pasta.

Saute garlic and celery in oil until tender.
Season with salt and pepper.

Add cooked chicken
and a generous amount of Franks Hot Sauce

If this dish isn't loaded with enough fat and carbs for you,
 Boneless, breaded buffalo chicken strips would be great here too...

Bring it all together!
Layer the chicken and mac & cheese

...top with crumbled blue cheese, parsley, breadcrumbs
& a pat of butter.

I typically LOVE to use panko breadcrumbs to top my mac & cheese.  But this time, I used homemade breadcrumbs with the sourdough bread I had on hand.  I just cut a few cubes and ran 'em in my food processor.  It actually worked really well!  The chewy, crustiness was perfect as a topper.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Stuffed Dates - The Perfect App

I love dates!  


Their bite-sized nature makes them an ideal poppable appetizer.  Just remove the pit and they become the perfect carrier for a filling... wrap 'em in bacon and...well, you know, the saying... bacon makes everything better!

There are endless ways to stuff dates.  In my opinion, the key is to keep in mind their sweetness and their soft texture.  Complement that sweetness with anything tangy, savory, spicy.  Contrast their texture with something crunchy or crispy.
Here are a couple of suggested options as thought starters:


Variation 1: Bittersweet chocolate, marcona almond, sea salt, and jalapeno pepper, wrapped with bacon.

 This is my favorite as I think it touches on just about every sensory experience you can have!  Just think: slightly bitter, deep flavor of chocolate, crunch of the almond, saltiness of...well the salt, of course...spicy, fresh bite of the jalapeno and the smoky, savory bacon!  It may sound like a strange combo but take the leap of faith and just try it.

After pitting the date, stuff it with a marcona almond,
a chard of bittersweet chocolate, generous sprinkle of sea salt,
 and top with a sliver of jalepeno

Wrap 'em up.... in BACON!
Secure with a toothpick.

Bake at 375F for 15-20mins or until bacon is nice and crispy.

Variation 2: Spanish Chorizo (spicy and savory), wrapped in bacon (smoked and savory)

Again, just cut into the date and remove the pit.
Stuff with a sliver of Spanish chorizo and wrap in bacon.

You know the drill....
Bake at 375F for 15-20mins or until bacon is crispy.

Variation 3: Goat Cheese stuffed, topped with toasted panko

Again, balance the sweet softness of the date with tangy, creamy goat cheese.  The panko adds just the right bit of crunch for an interesting texture.



Pictures to come!!!