Bacon Mac 'n Cheese

Good thing it's the holidays: I needed a nap after this delicious lunch.

Cook 3 cups dry macaroni according to package directions.  (Al dente.)

Melt 1/3 cup butter in sauce pan.  Whisk in 1/3 cup flour.

Add 2 cups of milk and seasonings (I used basil and black pepper) to the flour and butter mix.  Whisk continuously.  Once that has thickened, fold in 2-3 cups of grated cheddar and stir til smooth.

Pour sauce over drained noodles and mix.  Scoop into casserole dish.

Top with crumbled bacon, 1/2 cup grated cheese and breadcrumbs (or crunched up rice cereal, as I did here when I realized we didn't have breadcrumbs in the pantry).

Place in oven 5 350 until cheese is melted and bubbly (8-ish min).

Gifted: Play Doughnuts

This year my four-year-old niece got the handmade Christmas gift: doughnuts for dramatic play.  I used the pattern from Lion Brand's site and a variety of yarns from my stash.

They fit perfectly into this dollar-store baking box.

We added some paper coffee cups and empty coffee cans to make the play set complete.

Almost sweet enough to eat?

Simpsons homage. ;)

We paired the doughnuts with the picture book, Please, Mr. Panda.  (Synopsis: Mr. Panda offers all the animals doughnuts, but then keeps changing his mind.  Is there something the animals are forgetting to say?  The illustrations are awesome.)

(Photocred to my brother-in-law.  I forgot to take photos before I wrapped these up, but he was kind enough to send some shots.)

P.S: These are super fun to make.  I had a lot of fun playing with them as I went...