Food!

This past week I have been on vacation. It was a badly needed rest from work - I had a long winter with too many hours spent away from home. With Zeb still in school and a recent loss of a bunch of money (for plane tickets to Utah), we decided not to do anything too big for my vacation. We decided to stick around Dayton and relax and find a few fun things to do.

My favorite thing about vacations is really good food! So for my stay-cation I decided to make a bunch of my favorite foods. I have lately been into trying new recipes and making things from scratch - no boxes, no mixes, no pre-prepared stuff. I started the week with those mini-German pancakes which were easy and delicious. I've also made:

Alice Spring Chicken - almost as good as Outback's - chicken, bacon and cheese baked and drizzled in amazingly sweet honey mustard.  I could eat the sauce by the spoonful (and I'm almost certain Leisy did).

Incredible cheddar scalloped potatoes - I don't remember eating REAL scalloped potatoes. Mom correct me if I'm wrong, but I can only recall eating packaged scalloped potatoes growing up.  They definitely weren't a staple food at my house and I haven't made scalloped potatoes since I've been married.  That will change for sure!!  These thinly sliced potatoes in a creamy homemade cheddar cheese sauce were to die for.  I'm a fan of any recipe that begins with a rue.

I've almost mastered my chicken tikka masala recipe.  Where has Indian food been my whole life?!?  I constantly crave good Indian food but it's so expensive!  I have been trying out different recipes and with Leisy's homemade naan we can pull off a decent restaurant quality Indian meal to stave off my need to drop a ton of money at a restaurant (which gives me more to spend on sushi)!

Homemade macaroni and cheese.  So much better than the boxed kind.  The ultimate southern comfort food.  Paired with a fresh salad with tons of vegetables makes one feel a touch less guilty about being so indulgent in the cheesy goodness.

Brownies - I'm not sure why I've never ventured away from boxed mixes.  I have a few cookie recipes memorized that I can throw together quickly.  Zeb always begs for Dad's "secret recipe cookies".  So why not a go-to brownie recipe for when you need something sweet on a Sunday afternoon - or any afternoon??  I found my go-to recipe that I've already made a second time this week!