Cream Cheese Mac

I try to eat healthy as often as possible.  But sometimes, I just crave mac n cheese.  And sometimes, I remember that I just happened to buy cream cheese the other day and haven't done anything with it.  And think that maybe I should add cream cheese to the mac n cheese.  And darn it, I just remembered that I also have sour cream in my fridge that I should have thrown in because it needs to get used.  Oh well.  I missed out on using the sour cream, but I did use some cream cheese!

By the way, I'm currently eating my second helping.  This stuff is too good.  Maybe I'll run it off in my race on Saturday...It will only be the 2nd 10k course I have ever run.  I've done a 10k in Lewisburg for the past 5 years, but it's the only 10k I've ever done, and while my times for the past 2 years have been decent, I really really want to break 40 minutes. I'm hoping to achieve that this weekend.  New course, flatter course, and hopefully some better competition to help carry me to a PR! 

Anyway.  Cream Cheese Mac.  Deliciousness.

Boil some water and throw in about half a box of elbow macaroni.  In a smaller saucepan, combine 3 tbsp butter, 3-4 tbsp cream cheese, a bunch of heavy cream, 1/4 c wheat flour, and a big handful of shredded cheese. Once everything is all melty and delicious, and the macaroni is cooked, combine in an oven-safe dish.  Oh and by the way, grate a carrot and mix it in with all that.  Then you can pretend it's healthy.  Mix well, sprinkle more cheese over the top, and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  

I enjoyed my mac and cheese on a bed of arugula, topped with a crabby beef burger and some shaved & sauteed parsnips.  And then I drizzled ranch dressing over the whole thing because...I thought it might be too dry without it?  And...go big or go home? 

It was delicious.  

Eating super healthy all the time is overrated. 

and here's a picture of the shaved parsnips before I cooked them

just because

they're awesome

Crabby Beef Burger

1 lb ground beef (93/7 lean)

1 can of shredded crab meat

1 egg

2 tbsp of ranch

tbsp of bbq sauce

1/4 c breadcrumbs

mix it all up, shape into patties, cook 'em up

I put some into ziploc bags and put them in the freezer for later.

1/2 whole wheat bun

arugula

1/2 avocado

 Don't forget the home-made fries!

I love home-made fries...this is the 3rd night in a row I've had them for dinner!

Loaded Burger

Cook up a batch of purist burgers.

Toast a bun.  

Cover the bottom bun with guacamole.

Add a slice of tomato.

Add a burger.

Add some bacon.

Add some onions & mushrooms.

Add the top bun.  

EAT.

Sprout-Ranch Burger

pure. deliciousness.

hit the spot after my 12.5 mile run this morning!

1/4 lb ground beef, small handful of sprouts, dash of ranch dressing

gouda cheese

bacon and tomato

Purist Burger

Unusual for me.  I made a burger that was just. beef. I normally make my burgers exactly like I make my meatballs and meatloaf; with egg, breadcrumbs, herbs, and whatever else I feel like throwing in.  This time, I just took a hunk of beef out of the package, molded it into a burger-shape, and threw it in a skillet.  Of course, this was less because I wanted to be a purist, and more because it was faster and easier...I was hungry.  And I didn't want to make a whole pound of hamburgers, I just wanted one.

I served myself the hamburger on a bed of warm coleslaw, with some tomato and avocado.  Yes I played with my food and made it look pretty before I ate it. The plate is my canvas, food is my paint.  Or something like that. 

The coleslaw was about 1/2 of a small cabbage, and 1 medium carrot chopped up and cooked in a little bit of olive oil.  I tossed it with a bit of ranch dressing after removing it from the heat.  It was tasty.  

As for the lack of a hamburger bun...I'm on this kick where I'm trying to eat more protein and less carbs.  (or less carbs from bread and pasta, anyway) Carbs are necessary for energy...but not in the quantities that I normally consume.  I still eat a carb-loaded pancake for breakfast most days, and often a sandwich for lunch, but I'm finding that once I got used to the occasional bread/pasta-less meal, it's not so bad.  I can actually satisfy my hunger at dinner without eating pasta.  Who knew?  

Bacon Burger?

sort of...

mashed sweet potatos, burger, guac and bacon,

the whole thing surrounded by mushrooms

and some veggies on the side

carrots and pole beans

Leek Burger and Carrot Soup

Burger topped with leeks, on foccacia

Carrot Soup