The folks at ModCloth kindly asked for the best mac & cheese recipe known to man.

You may think that based on recent posts, I'm somehow affiliated with Modcloth, or get some kind of kickback from them. I only wish that were true, (especially if the kickback came in the form of dresses).
The truth is, I just really love their style and the story behind the company, so I wanted to share with them, and with you, dear reader, my husband's famous Baked Green Chile Mac & Cheese.


Thanks to Food Network, for the photo. This is exactly what ours looks like! OK, ours might not be as pretty. But I bet it's more delicious.

Here is the recipe in all its one-million-calorie glory. Seriously, it's awful for you. I'd recommend saving this recipe for special occasions, like Christmas, or Tuesday. Enjoy, and don't hold me responsible for any impending heart attacks.

1/2 lb elbow macaroni
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp powdered mustard
1 1/2 c. whole milk
1 1/2 c. half & half
1/2 c. yellow onion, finely diced
1/2 c to 1 c diced New Mexico green chiles
1 bay leaf
1 tsp smoked paprika, or more to taste (if you can't get smoked paprika, don't bother)
1 large egg at room temp, or gently warmed in a water bath
6 Oz. of good quality (not KRAFT) sharp cheddar, shredded
6 Oz. smoked gouda, shredded
1/2 c. parmesan
salt
Fresh black pepper

Topping:
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. bread crumbs or panko
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp herbs de province
Salt to taste
xtra bread crumbs to prepare baking dish

Note, if you can't get good quality New Mexico green chile, fresh or frozen, I'd recommend making it with chipotles in Adobo instead, because canned green chile is an abomination unto the lard. I'd start with 2 chipotles finely diced and 1 to 2 Tbsp of the adobo sauce, then add to taste. (Don't use the whole can-- I wouldn't even mention this, except a good friend made this mistake once, and it was pretty painful to all parties involved.)


Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Prepare a baking dish by coating with butter and then with bread crumbs or panko

Shred cheddar and gouda and mix together into a bowl with 1/2 c. parmesean, stir together well.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta until it is nearly al dente, but a little toothy.

In a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard. Whisk gently for about 5 minutes until the roux begins to brown. Make sure it's completely free of lumps.

Stir in the milk, half & half, onion, green chile (or chipotles & adobo sauce) bay leaf, and paprika. bring to a simmer and cook on low heat for about ten minutes until it thickens. Stir occasionally. Remove the bay leaf.

Break egg into a separate dish and whisk thoroughly. Ladle a small amount of the roux into the egg and whisk, to temper the egg. Repeat this a couple of times. Then stir egg mixture into the roux.

slowly Stir in 3/4 of the cheese, allowing it to melt thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper.

Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into the baking dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Make the topping:
Melt i/4 c. butter in a small sauce pan

Mix 1/2 c. parmesan, 1/2 c. bread crumbs and 1 Tbsp. herbs de province and salt to taste, in together in a separate bowl, then add to the melted butter and stir until a dry, clumpy mixture forms.

Top the mac n cheese with the bread crumb mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for five minutes before serving.



I typically consume between three and four times the amount of mac & cheese seen here.

After reading Cormac McCarthy's

The Road

(which I absolutely loved and would describe as two parts horror to one part beauty)
I needed to take the edge off a bit, so I'm rereading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.


And come on, it has something to do with the newest movie as well...

If you haven't seen it, you have to-- not because it's necessarily the best interpretation, but come on. Johnny, Helena and Anne-- I mean, come ON.

When I was little I loved the whimsy and silliness of the story, and when I reread it in college, I definitely picked up on the social commentary. This time around, I'm finding it absolutely hilarious and well... wonderful.



What are your favorite books from childhood?

Friday Faves

1. Retro Swimsuits

OK, yes, I know it's still March, but this 70 degree weather has me dreaming of summer.




These next two suits and more can be found at Modcloth.
Seriously, how did I live before Modcloth?



2. Orange Soda

When I was little and my family lived in Germany, we used to drive to France on Sundays and pick up a case of Orangina. It was such a treat and tasted like pure heaven. I still love it, and these days you don't have to drive to France to get it.


Izze makes a Clementine soda that is all natural, and completely delicious.


And the classic orange Fanta. Aber natürlich!


3. Seatbelt Camera Straps


We've all seen seatbelts recycled beautifully as handbags, but as camera straps? I LOVE it. So does Nathan. He has two of them.


4. I've always loved Vespas.

I love that they look almost exactly the same today as they did fifty years ago. Austin is the perfect city to ride a Vespa to the grocery store, library, coffee shop, anywhere. Also, they use a really small amount of gasoline, so they're more environmentally-friendly than owning a second car. Honestly, what's not to love?




5. The Blanton

The collection at The Blanton is absolutely incredible-- especially their modern art wing (shown here).

Here's the stunning foyer, which is an homage to Donald Judd, one of my favorite artists ever.

Another one of my favorite works is this installation piece called How to Build Cathedrals.
This piece has some kind of magic, I swear.

As if that's not enough, the museum has a lovely cafe and a fabulous gift shop. that has any number of things you simply won't be able to live without.

Art, coffee and shopping. All at the same time. As if that weren't enough, every Thursday, admission is free. Free!

All things Alice

On Sunday, Nathan and I saw Alice in Wonderland at the Alamo Drafthouse.
It was just what I'd hoped for-- full of whimsy and fun.

In honor of the newest version of this beloved story, here are some Alice-inspired thises and thats.

Why have a pocketwatch, when you could have a gorgeous pocketwatch necklace?


Or, if you don't want to wear an actual pocketwatch, you could always wear a scarf featuring one.

I love this unique glass teapot
and this more traditional ceramic teapot.


Presenting the cutest sugar dish and creamer ever.

And you must have a cup to drink that tea, after all.

I adore these vintage playing cards.


This green frock is by Catherine Malandrino, and so very Alice, I think. Must be the ruffles....
Here's the designer herself in (nearly the same) dress, but I must say I prefer the pintucks on the bodice on the other one.


Here's a Calvin Klein sleeveless shirt dress that's also very Alice, if she were to go to a garden party in 2010.

The original illustrations by John Tenniel show Alice in Mary Janes. These are a tad more grown-up.


I personally always pictured Alice in patent leather ballet flats like these.


Roses for the Red Queen.


We own this peppermill, which would be perfect for the cook and duchess whenever they want to make soup.

I wish we owned these white rabbit bookends.


And here's a classic chessboard.

Lastly, the cupcakes... ah, the cupcakes.

Friday Faves...not, I repeat, not an original idea

I completely ripped this off, thanks to Robyn ala Twitch Vintage. For the record, I did let her know, and I really hope she doesn't mind.

1. Crayola pens


I have one in yellow that I bought here in town at Toy Joy and it cost about five bucks. Using it at work has been incredibly fun.


2. Lemon curd


If you've never experienced this deliciosity, please pardon the name and carry on. We make the Alton Brown recipe, and it's divine. Pour into small graham cracker tart shells, chill for several hours, and top with whipped cream. Or, top brioche. Or, eat with a spoon. Only you can decide what's right for you.


3. Red umbrellas.




We bought a classic red umbrella with wooden handle-- made by Totes at Target for twelve bucks! This one is a bit more, because it's automatic, I suppose?


4. Belts without tails





I've always disliked belts because they have that weird tail-flap that you never know what to do with. I'm sorry to be cheesy, but where have these belts been all my life?


5. Cruiser bicycles with coaster brakes-- because some of us still aren't comfortable with hand-brakes. Also because they're
vintage-inspired and oh-so cute.






OK, I know the last one isn't a real bike, but I couldn't resist.
P.S. My cute sister has the best cruiser bike, and as soon as I find out what the brand is, I'll post it here. Promise.
Happy weekend!

Update: My sister got her bike from Manhattan Cruisers. You can find their website here.

Chutes and Ladders

Remember this?

I always wondered why breaking a cookie jar cost you 63 points, but crashing through thin ice only cost you 21 points. That seemed waaaaay more serious. Still does. But I digress.

If I were to construct a Chutes and Ladders gameboard that represents my life in the last 24 hours, it would look something like this:

Instead of fixing my hair, I slept in = chute
I got to eat dinner for free at Z'Tejas = ladder
I was on local TV = ladder
I looked kind of fat = chute
I said some intelligent things = ladder
I'm pretty sure I said the non-existent word "high-interestly" = chute
I got to meet the superintendent = big ladder
I forgot to turn in my already overdue library book = chute
A gas station attendant said I looked like a girl from America's Next Top Model = ladder

I think that leaves me somewhere near the middle-to-top of the board. Now, if I can just avoid the massive pitfalls of drawing art on the walls and carrying too many dishes at one time, I think I'll be OK.

So it's been a week and two days since the SCBWI conference.

The one here in Austin, mind you. Not that I would've complained at all about making a jaunt up to NYC. But it just so happens that we have a ton of really talented and prolific writers right here, in our own neighborhood.

Since then, I've been thinking through all the information, going back through my furiously-scrawled notes, and most importantly, working on my own writing.
Some of the time I write at the coffee shop, some of the time at the library, and some of the time in my office-- where I can see the infamous wall of rejections any time I want.



I've also been feeling really inspired, and I wish there were a non-cheesy way to say that.

One of the agents who spoke at the conference, Mark McVeigh, said something that I heard as a challenge. He said (along with a bunch of other really helpful things), "Try to write outside your genre-- Rub your Muse the wrong way and potentially free yourself up."
I took that on and decided to write my first children's book. Which sparked the dreaded question, "Did you illustrate it as well?" The answer? "No." But still! It was a pretty big deal. I'm thinking of writing a children's book every week or so, just for fun, while I'm revising my YA novel. Because... well, why not? Apparently my Muse likes to learn new tricks.

I also loved everything Kirby Larson, author of Hattie Big Sky, a 2007 Newbery Honor Book, had to say.


Her session was called "First You Throw Away the Map." I mean, come on-- how great is that?
She talked about her story, her process, how there isn't one right process, and she offered some really practical wisdom as well.
When she began to talk about how writing equals hard work, it's like I felt the NYSE bells go off in my head.
She quoted Madeline l"Engle: "The moment of inspiration isn't a moment. It must be worked for."
and Samuel Goldwyn: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

That was the second of about 127 things I needed to hear at the SCBWI conference. It made me come back to my computer, and dig back into my writing. It was just what I needed. Like that Cars song that sold its soul to a last-ditch Circuit City ad campaign.



I've got a ton of notes from the conference, WAY too many to include here, but please email me if you'd like my notes from any of the sessions. (Other than the illustrators' session. I did not attend that one-- as I said already, I'm not an illustrator, and the world thanks me.)

P.S. Here's the other thing about my wall of rejections. Even if they were all rejections in the end, quite a lot of them started as requests-- for partial or full manuscripts, so seriously! If that won't motivate me to keep working hard and writing, I don't know what will.