firecracker mac & cheese...

*faint*
I'm okay... It's just that I'm a huge, gigantic, enormous lover of mac & cheese.
Seriously, it doesn't matter if it's fancy, homemade, simple or from a box...
you put it in front of me, I'll eat it up. Mmmm... I'll even lick the fork!

Several weekends back, JB, baby boy, and I loaded up in our SUV
and made the trek to a cozy, hilly little town south of Nashville
to have a reunion with some of my dearest friends from high school.

It was peaceful,

gorgeous,

entertaining,

breathtaking,

and memorable.

There's nothing else in the world that can warm your heart
and soul like getting together with life long friends.


Well, of course, unless it's this.
My good friend, Tammy, served her mac & cheese
after a day of sun and swimming... Of course, it wasn't the only
dish she and her accommodating hubby served, but
it was the first one I tried... then I promptly asked for the recipe.


After returning home I had an uncontrollable urge to make it.
After an ingredient check of my pantry, I discovered I didn't
exactly have what Tammy had described... so, I improvised.

She used the creamy boxed Kraft Macaroni & Cheese... You know
the one with the foil packet of soft cheese you squeeze out.

I used two boxes of regular ol' Kraft Macaroni & Cheese... It's all I had.

She used an entire bag (2 cups) of Shredded Cheddar Cheese.

I used 8 ounces of Cream Cheese and about 3/4 of a bag
of Shredded Authentic Mexican Cheese...
And home toasted bread crumbs.

Oh, and I renamed it, "Firecracker Mac & Cheese" in honor of my dear friend.
Firecracker because it's the perfect summertime dish and it's got a little kick...
Not to mention, Tammy is quite the firecracker, blonde, bombshell herself...
and I love her.

Thanks for having us out... and thanks for sharing
your awesome shower and your mac & cheese!

*Firecracker Mac & Cheese*

2 boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese... prepared according to directions,
using a little extra butter and milk.
8 oz. cream cheese.
1 jar salsa... even a can of Rotel would work.
1 bag (2 cups) Your Favorite Shredded Cheese
1 cup home toasted bread crumbs... or even smashed croutons
would do in a pinch.

~Spray a baking dish with a non-stick spray.
~In a large bowl mix together the prepared mac & cheese, cream
cheese and salsa until blended.
~Pour into baking dish.
~Top with shredded cheese and bread crumbs.
~Bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Enjoy!

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings
they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!
~Thomas Jefferson