Friday, November 11, 2011

Flaunt it friday!

Flaunt it friday on Chic on a Shoestring Decorating!  Go check out all the fabulous ideas!  Be prepared to spend hours! 

Hugs,
Natalie

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

It's Tuesday To Do day

It's Tuesday To Do day  The Blackberry Vine

Click here if you missed my post on my new mudroom.  You won't believe the transformation!

If you want to join in on Tuesday To Do Party Click on The Blackberry Vine link above.  Have fun!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Bedroom turned Mudroom Reveal

Shelf area above my new washer & dryers!  Lots of antique silver, milk glass, & old dust pans!



Love our new door and window.  There used to be NO door here, just a wall!  It allows us to head right outside to the machine shed and keeps the dirt in the mudroom and not the main entry of our house!  Love this!



































































































































 
                 
Ikea Baskets & green boxes.  Glass jars hold laundry soap, softener & bleach.  
Square glass jar and slver bowl on pedestal hold money found in pockets!  Sink & tall faucet from Ikea.  My milk glass vases are ready for fresh cut flowers & greenery from the garden.  I can't wait to fill these with fresh Iowa pine greens.  


Do you like my new mudroom?


 For a refresher...this is what it used to look like....
To the right of this photo is where the headboard was...now it is my new washer/dryer area!

Window & wall before new door

Closet...stay tuned of how I turned it into a pantry!     




So I ask once again, Do you like my new mudroom?

Hugs,
Natalie

Friday, November 4, 2011

Oh my...this recipe is straight from Heaven...oh

wait...I guess it's really from THE PIONEER WOMAN.  

 

It's DIVINE! 

 

Would you believe me if I told you in my 41 

years of life I have NEVER made homemade 

macaroni & cheese?  Yep just the old Kraft 

brand and my senses have now been 

AWAKENED! 



Macaroni and Cheese


Ingredients

  • 4 cups Dried Macaroni
  • 1 whole Egg Beaten
  • ¼ cups (1/2 Stick Or 4 Tablespoons) Butter
  • ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
  • 2-½ cups Whole Milk
  • 2 teaspoons (heaping) Dry Mustard, More If Desired
  • 1 pound Cheese, Grated
  • ½ teaspoons Salt, More To Taste
  • ½ teaspoons Seasoned Salt, More To Taste
  • ½ teaspoons Ground Black Pepper
  • Optional Spices: Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Thyme (Yes Natalie added these all buy the thyme)

Preparation Instructions

Cook macaroni until very firm. Macaroni should be too firm to eat right out of the pot. Drain.
In a small bowl, beat egg.

In a large pot, melt butter and sprinkle in flour. Whisk together over medium-low heat. Cook mixture for five minutes, whisking constantly. Don’t let it burn.

Pour in milk, add mustard, and whisk until smooth. Cook for five minutes until very thick. Reduce heat to low.

Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking eggs. Whisk together till smooth.

Pour egg mixture into sauce, whisking constantly. Stir until smooth.

Add in cheese and stir to melt.

Add salt and pepper. Taste sauce and add more salt and seasoned salt as needed! DO NOT UNDERSALT.

Pour in drained, cooked macaroni and stir to combine.

Serve immediately (very creamy) or pour into a buttered baking dish, top with extra cheese, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.

Special note from Natalie: I added dry bread crumbs on top before baking with a drizzle of butter.  YUM!