Manic Monday Meals ~ Mac & Cheese & Banana Bars

Wow it's Monday and it's a holiday, guess what I did .... I slept in! I know usually I have my Monday post typed up Sunday PM. I actually took my Sunday night and was lazy, meaning I didn't get my post up ... hehe :).

I was asked by my friend **** April **** asked that I give a little more with my recipes. At the bottom of my recipes I do add the ALEXIS NOTES that give you any subs I have made but not really about taste etc. I'm going to start adding a post it note with some extra notes for each recipe :), Let me know what you think.

Baked Mac & Cheese w/ Bacon found on All Recipes

Ingredients

• 2 slices bacon
• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
3. In a large pot with boiling salted water cook pasta until al dente. Drain.
4. In a medium skillet saute the chopped onion, and minced garlic. Take off heat and add chopped cooked bacon and set aside.
5. To make the sauce, in a medium saucepan melt the butter or margarine over low heat. Once melted, add the flour and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Gradually add milk and continue stirring until thickened. Stir in 2 cups of the grated Cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
6. Combine cooked pasta, sauteed vegetables and sauce. Pour into a 2 quart casserole dish. Add the last cup of grated Cheddar cheese to top of mixture.
7. Bake uncovered in preheated oven until cheese on top is melted and brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used whole wheat noodles, whole wheat flour and turkey bacon (take that Amy). It turned out great and no one said anything about my subs.

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My Second recipe was one I made for church on Sunday, they went so quick I didn't even get one. I heard they were very yummy and they did smell good :).

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup dry cocoa powder

Method

In bowl, cream butter and sugar; add egg and vanilla. Blend in bananas. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to mixture; stir well. Divide batter in half. Stir cocoa powder into one half and spread in a 13x9x2-inch greased pan. Spoon remaining batter on top; swirl with knife. Bake about 25 minutes at 350 degrees, or until bars spring back.

ALEXIS NOTES: These came out almost like a cake so don't think it's a cookie texture. If I was making for home I would have use whole wheat flour.