Yankee Doodle Macaroni

Tonight's dinner: Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, Pepper Jack Burger, and Corn on the Cob.

Stovetop Mac and Cheese
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 Cup of Milk
2 servings of your choice of macaroni -I use Smart taste elbows
1/2- 1 Cup Cheese - You can use whatever cheese you have handy. I usually try to throw in at least one slice of Kraft American slices because it makes it creamier, but use what you have. I mixed the Italian blend and Mexican blend shredded cheeses today.
Salt and Pepper to taste

A stovetop mac and cheese works just like the Kraft box kind, but there should be less sodium and fewer preservatives. So boil water and cook your pasta based on the directions on the box (this recipe is for two servings of pasta with cheese). Drain. Add butter, milk and cheeses and turn the burner on low. Let the mac and cheese bubble a bit; it will thicken as it cooks (1-2 minutes). Make sure to keep stirring the pasta throughout this process otherwise it will burn. Once the mac and cheese is the consistency that you like add salt and pepper.

Hint: If you are seeking a very creamy mac and cheese use primarily American or Oaxaca cheese. Cheddar cheeses won't melt quite as well and have a little more texture.

Pepper Jack Burger
1/3 Pound 85/15 hamburger
Pepper Jack Cheese
2 teaspoons worteshire sauce
Seasoned Salt
Pepper

This is a basic stovetop burger. When I go grocery shopping I usually buy a pound of hamburger and split it into thirds before I free it. I recently started wrapping each section in plastic wrap then you can put all three sections in a single freezer bag. It saves space in the freezer and freezer bags. Hello eco awesome!

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Form the burger into a patty and cook on medium until the jucies run clear. When your burger is cooked add the slices of pepper jack cheese to the top and cover. Cook on low until the cheese is melted.

Corn on the Cob
The corn on the cob was another great purchase from teh farmers market this weekend. I slathered butter on the cob, placed it on a microwave safe plate, and covered the plate with plastic wrap. I cooked my cob of corn for 2 minutes and 45 seconds and it was perfectly steamed. If you were adding more cobs you'll increase the cook time by roughly 2 minutes a cob. Then of course add more butter and salt.