Southern Comfort Macaroni and Cheese

Need a hug? Bring it in. Need to talk? I'm all ears. Need to cry? My shoulder is ready. Need to emotionally eat? I've got you covered....nothing says love like food. Especially Southern comfort food. Food celebrates everything and comforts anything. New Baby-bring food. Death in a family-bring food. New home-bring food. Broken heart-bring food...and booze.

Simply put, food is my love language. If my boys are coming home for the weekend to visit, I like to have their favorite foods available so they can fill up their bellies and take home the rest. From Chicken Enchiladas, deviled eggs, pumpkin bread to macaroni and cheese. Doesn't matter what it is. It's my way of saying I love you, I've missed you, I want you to leave happy and I want you to come back and visit your family! Hint, hint Ryan and Matthew.

I'm not a world class chef and don't pretend to be (although I would LOVE to have my own cooking show and MAYBE I've pretended to host my own cooking show a time or two..."Kat's Kitchen" just sayin'). But I am a world class home cooking Mama. I'm someone who loves to cook and bake ALL the things that are supposed to be bad for you, AKA comfort food.

Food that smells like a long warm hug, chewy like a good conversation, spicy enough to make you cry happy food tears, all of it fulfilling your emotional needs. Yup-that's my style. And that's probably why I'm over weight too. But that's for another blog post (thyroid-I'm blaming it all on the thyroid).

So for those of you I can't reach over and hug. For my boys who don't visit home nearly enough. Here is my way of saying I love you, one of my favorite recipes: Southern Comfort Macaroni and Cheese.


             Southern Comfort Macaroni and Cheese

Preheat Oven to 375

Ingredients

1 pound medium cut elbow macaroni and cheese noodles

8oz sharp cheddar cheese

8oz monterey jack cheese

1 pound block of Velveeta cheese (store brand works fine too)

1 1/4 cups whole milk

2 large eggs, beaten

Salt and pepper to taste

1 stick of unsalted butter

Optional

*I like to add a can of drained rotel to my macaroni and cheese-my boys like the heat*

*Crumbled up bacon taste amazing with this too*

Instructions

Spray a 4 quart baking dish with non-stick spray. Set aside.

Boil noodles, rinse, drain-set aside

Shred the cheddar cheese and jack cheese-mix together-set aside

Pour milk into a large saucepan and warm over medium heat

Cut Velveeta into chunks and add into saucepan

Cook on medium heat and stir often until melted

Remove from heat-set aside

Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and lightly whisk

{Temper the Eggs: tempering prevents eggs from scrambling in the hot cheese sauce}

Scoop out some of the hot cheese sauce and slowly add it to the eggs

Continue to whisk the eggs and cheese until well combined

Add half of the elbow macaroni noodles to the baking pan

Season with salt, pepper and optional ingredients

Slice thin layers of butter and spread them around the top of the noodles

Sprinkle 1/2 of  cheddar/jack cheese combo over the noodles

Ladle 1/2 of the Velveeta cheese sauce over that

Repeat the layers of noodles, seasonings, butter, cheeses and Velveeta sauce

Cook at 375 degrees uncovered for 30-35 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned

Enjoy!!

(recipe adapted from Deep South Dish)

Southern Style Spice Rack

I used to have all my spices in a drawer and like most people, most of my spices had long since expired and were just piling up. Just an FYI, as with your medicine cabinet, you should check your expatriation dates on your spices. Fresh spices help bring flavor to your favorite dishes, and spices that are in clearly marked, wide-mouth jars make it even easier to use. Cause, let's face it y'all, things shoved in drawers and in the back of cabinets get lost and before you know it, you have 4 of the same spice! 

Awhile back, I had seen this imagine of a mason jar spice rack in the background of someone's kitchen and just loved it. I searched and searched on-line for that mason jar spice rack and nothing. Recently, while shopping at Wal-Mart, I saw a little spice rack and turned my head to find half pint mason jars....this was the mason jar spice rack I had been searching for! Seriously, right under my nose the whole time. It's a put together southern style spice rack and I love, love, love it!!  That day I bought what I needed, assembled my spice rack and I have mine on the kitchen counter instead of putting it away. It's just too cute to hide!

I also searched for labels and ordered some on Etsy. These labels not only fit the half pint mason jar tops but also they fit my style. Look for what you like and 

what fits your style/kitchen theme best. I don't own a color printer, or else I probably would have just made my own. Do what works best for you. 

So here is how I put together my southern style spice rack; the cost and the link for the labels if you want the same as mine. 

Enjoy y'all!!!

Southern Style Spice Rack

1-Better Homes & Garden Bamboo 3-Tier Cabinet Organizer ($5.74)

1-12 pack Anchorglass Half Pint/8oz Mason Jars ($6.97)

**Both of these were found at my local Wal-Mart in the canning section/kitchen**

Labels were purchased through Etsy at this link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/250890978/printed-all-purpose-label-stickers-set?ref=shop_home_active_14

The labels cost me $12.99 total for 24 blue label stickers. Expensive, yes, however the labels themselves were only $2.99 but they were shipped from India. Shipping from India is what made them expensive. But I splurged a little for them.
Again, you could easily make your own, if you want. 

Pour your unexpired spices into each jar and label with sticker. 

The spice rack holds 9 mason jars, so you'll have a few left to use for other spices or for things like push pins and such. 

I hope you enjoy making your Southern Style Spice Rack!

Southern Sweet Iced Tea

I'm a sweet drinker. Doesn't have to be summer or a barbecue happening, I'll drink it all year long and with any meal y'all. My sons Matt and Will have recently joined me in my sweet tea fetish. Matthew went to California over the summer to visit his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin and much to his surprise they apparently don't serve sweet tea in California according to my sister in law. WHAT??!! 

I was even surprised by that. California, you don't know what you are missing.

Well, Matthew being a new sweet tea drinker himself, ordered a glass of regular ice tea and decided to pour packets-not a few packets but like a ton of packets onto his chilled tea. He couldn't figure out why it didn't have that sweet taste even after using a whole dish of sugar.  And why he felt like he just poured sand into his mouth. I later had to explain that when you make sweet tea you have to add the sugar when the tea is hot. It takes the grittiness out and it basically makes into a simple syrup. 

Also you MUST use good ol' Lipton ice tea bags. Nothing flavored, unless you want sweet Raspberry or  sweet Peach tea or even sweet Green tea. But outside of those, nothing else will do...in my opinion, at least. I'll take good ol' fashioned sweet tea. On really hot summer days I'll make sun tea when I want a tea without sugar. Tea without sugar is only good after mowing the yard and weed eating. Other than that pass me the sweet tea, please!

So enjoy a glass of sweet tea this week, sit outside, watch the kids play and thank Jesus for the little things....like this recipe for my Sweet Southern Iced Tea! 

Southern Sweet Iced Tea

1 gallon pitcher (I use a Rubbermaid pitcher)

Boil a gallons worth of water

4 Lipton family size tea bags

1 1/2 cups sugar

Feel free to add or more or less sugar, I like mine extra sweet!

**Water needs to be hot in order for sugar to become a simple syrup** 

Friends don't let friends drink gritty tea....yuck! 

Let tea bags seep for about 10 minutes or so in the hot sugar water

Stir well and put in refrigerator to chill.

I don't add ice to my pitcher as it water downs the sweet tea. I add ice to glass and pour in sweet tea after it has chilled for several hours.

Serve in a mason jar for more Southern flare:)

Add a sprig of mint to give it an even more Southern twist!

Cheers Y'all!

Blessings,

Welcome to Southern Sweetys

Hi and welcome to my blog!! I'm so glad you have stopped by! Please feel free to leave comments, questions and please Pin away to your hearts desire!

Okay so let me tell y'all about myself and my beautiful family...

My name is Katrina "Kat" Smith. I am originally from Keokuk, IA and moved to Springdale, AR when I was about 8 years old. I consider myself from Arkansas, since I have lived here most of my life. I know where my roots are and still consider Keokuk home to me as well. The South has definitely rubbed off on me and now I am all Arkansas with my southern drawl, love of sweet tea and consistent use of the word "y'all." And I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll continue with more about little ol' me after I brag on those that make my story worth telling about first.....

I am married to my husband, Mark, of  almost 10 years now. We met on Match.com and he is the love of my life. I smile most when he is around and he is the most supportive, adoring, Godly, caring, sweetest, giving, loving and gorgeous man I have ever met. Saying he is the love of my life is clearly an understatement. I am your constant emotional screw-up, I deal daily with depression due to medication I was on to help heal my back after the birth of our 4 child & good ol' hypothyroid disease. My head is often in the clouds yet I am too insecure to try new things....crazy, I know. My husband is my best friend. Without him, I don't know where I'd be in my life. He is my knight in shining Armour who swooped in to rescued me from a life of loneliness. One word to best describe Mark would be Lifesaver. He the person that keeps our family afloat. Mark is an structural engineer, home brewer and lover of sports. This Spring he will be opening up a brewery {his life long dream}. Mark is braver than I will ever be and I am beyond proud and happy for him.  Mark is all things fall to me...warm and cozy and he smells good too:)
Mark is smart, talented, patient and

 just simply amazing. God blessed me ten-fold with this amazing man.

My husband, Mark and myself, Kat

Together Mark and I have 4 awesome children. We have Ryan (Ry) who is 21 years old and lives in Fayetteville, AR. Ryan has worked for Wal-Mart for about 3 years now & just bought his first car as a grown-up! Building that credit up, y'all.  Ryan has Asperger's Syndrome and has come so far in his life. He and we still struggle at many times with his AS, but we are always Ry's biggest supporters and cheerleaders. He is always making us proud and we are excited to see him grow and live the life he has only dreamed about. Best word to describe Ryan would be Determined.  With help from his Grandpa Glasgow he has learned how to play the guitar and everyday he practices the guitar looking to become better. Ryan loves music, writing and being creative. Ryan rarely gives up and when he finds something he is passionate about, he gives it his all. 

Ryan

Then there is Matthew who is 18 years old (AKA Sweets).  Matt earned the nickname Sweets for his love affair with all things sweet. Matthew is a Freshman at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He is majoring in Science and he just landed the job of Track Manager at the UofA for the Razorback Track team. Matt is a former State winning runner and our family athlete. Matt is your constant perfectionist. He is a rule follower and hardest working kid you'll ever meet. He is loving, caring, kind, sweet and a hugger. He hugs, a lot, and I love that he hugs. He'll be like his Dad when he grows up-a very loving & attentive husband.  There's a lucky woman out there waiting to meet this prince charming one day. Matt is literally tall, dark and handsome. A word to best describe Matt would be Honorable. He is a man of his word and there is nothing that he wouldn't do for his fellow man. He's always got your back and would never turn his back on you. Matt will always be a kid at heart. He loves to build  Legos, video games, reading and singing. 

Matthew

Next is our only girl, Mary Kate (AKA MK or Kitten), who is 8 years old. Named after two of her Great-Grandma's, she is a pleasant mix of all girl and a little tom boy too. She loves hanging out with the guys playing basketball and baseball and loves dressing in pink with bows and pretty sparkles. She is the sweetest kid ever. She cares about others so much. Every morning we pray in the van on the way to school for her classmates. Is she knows someone is struggling, she keeps them in her thoughts and prayers. She is seriously just the sweetest. Mary Kate is an observer, she is a lover of animals, music, cooking shows and she is simply beautiful. Mary Kate is swimmer and singer, and she works very hard at both. But more than anything, she makes me smile, laugh and most of all she makes me proud.  She always leaves me silly messages on my phone and it just makes my day. Mary Kate is in the 2nd year grade and she is an amazing reader for age. One word to best describe Mary Kate is Talented. She sings, swims, draws, writes stories, reads a lot, and she loves performing made up songs outside for our two dogs. 

Mary Kathryn

Last but certainly not least is William, (AKA Will, The Wills, Will-Will, Little Man). Will is almost 7 years old. He is our little miracle baby that we nearly lost during pregnancy due to an infection and surgeries I had at 13 weeks gestation. Will was also born with 3 knots in his umbilical cord that could have cost him his life or could have given him brain damage. Will was born perfectly healthy. I often say that Will is perfect name for him because he had the Will to live and boy is he strong-willed too. Will is sweet, cuddly and always making us laugh. He is the comedian of the family for sure. There is never a dull moment with Will around. He is a quick witted mama's boy, who I REALLY wish would stop growing up!  Will is so much like his Daddy it's crazy. He loves to build things and take things apart, he loves staying busy. He loves Legos, baseball, drawing, playing tricks on me, board games and helping me in the kitchen. A word to describe Will would be Curious. He loves to touch everything and try to figure things out on his own. He is independent, he likes to work with his hands and I can easily see him becoming an 

Engineer like his Daddy one day. 

Will

So that's it....wait, oh there's more about me....

 I am a Catholic Wife and Mom. As mentioned above, I do suffer from depression and anxiety but have chosen to not be on medication. Medication & hypothyroid disease is why I struggle with it like I do. Instead I deal with it by praying, reading scripture, exercise, being present with my family, baking, and trying to talk myself up from my downs. Depression has caused me to have severe anxiety around other adults and so that leaves me with few friends.  I'm learning to be excepting of that, but it's hard. We all needs friends. Outside of that mess in my life, I do have lots of scattered ambitions and I love to cook, craft, photograph and laugh. Even though depression and anxiety are in my life I am a  happy person-if that makes sense at all. I am most happy when I'm together with my whole family hanging out in our back yard cooking out, swimming, tossing the football, sitting by the fire pit, date nights with my husband, sipping on a Mommy drink and holding my husband's hand. I love taking pictures of my family and I love anything kitchen, Hobby Lobby, Kirkland's and Euna Mea's.  I was saying "I Love You More" before it was cool to say. I'm your typical Southern lady; I love manners, big bows, lipstick, hairspray, sweet tea and Jesus. A word to describe me would be Blessed. Yes, Blessed. I'm hoping my blog over time will help others who are dealing with depression and anxiety due mainly to hypothyroid disease. I obviously don't want it to be my sole focus, because it's important to focus on what makes us happy. 

Okay so that is it. This is us.  These are my "Southern Sweetys." I hope you enjoy this blog. Again, please feel free to comment, message and pass it on. 

Blessings,