Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese

So, I'm really not a fancy cook. Basically what happens is I sit here at work and think to myself...."Self, what can you make from the pantry without having to go to the grocery store?" That's how I came up with Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese.

On hand I had:
Already browned ground beef (about a pound if I had to guess)
3 boxes mac & cheese
1 can roasted & diced tomatoes

So, that was it...Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese. Except, I went a little further...

I boiled my noodles and made the macaroni according to the directions on the box and added in the ground beef. In another pot, I put about 3/4 cup of milk and a biiiig spoon of butter to melt. Then I added a block of cream cheese and let it all melt. Then I added some cumin and GrillMates hamburger seasoning for that off the grill hamburger taste as well as some worchestershire sauce and a little Dale's seasoning. Then I threw in some shredded chedder and poured the entire mixture in to the pot with the macaroni and ground beef. I cracked and beat two eggs and poured them in and mixed it allll together.

I put it into a casserole dish and put a little more ground beef on top and a few dashes of worchestershire and some more cheese. I baked it for a little bit and then put some more cheese on top and let it finish.

Nothing fancy, but it was GREAT! My neighbors loved it as well. If I had to make any changes, I'd do maybe a half a blog of cream cheese and one more egg. My whole purpose with the egg was to bind it all together, but it didn't work...which I'm guessing because it was so creamy. I also might sprinkle bread crumbs or crushed Ritz on top.

A little bacon couldn't hurt, either!

Bacon and Maple and Cupcakes, Oh My!

My sister's housewarming party was this past Saturday night and I had promised to bring cupcakes. I had a few of my Strawberry Limeade left from an impromptu baking session the middle of the week so I figured I would bring those. I also decided to make my Double Chocolate Surprise Cupcake...brownie on the bottom, cupcake on the top, yummy treat on the inside!

Then suddenly...out of nowhere came to urge to make Bacon and Maple cupcakes....I know...I know...strange. But they turned out nice and EVERYONE has liked them!

Here are a few pictures from the day...(taken from my phone so not the best quality! sorry!)

These are the Double Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes! You can't even tell there's anything special about them huh?

The Double Chocolate Suprises with their peanut butter butter cream and Mr. Goodbar garnish! YUM!

Frying up the bacon for the Bacon Maple cupcakes!

The Bacon Maple Cupcakes before they entered the oven. You can see the bacon bits in the batter!

And here is the Bacon Maple Cupcake!!

That's all for this time...I didn't get a picture of the Strawberry Limeade cupcake, but I'm sure I'll be making it again soon!