Crock Pot Mac and Cheese (Low Calorie)

Good Tuesday morning!

The building of the deck interfered with my nap plans. Monday afternoon I added Pet Peeve #5,001 to my ever-growing list... I don't like workmen hammering when I'm trying to take a much-needed nap. However, that would seem ungrateful since I have been wanting this new deck since the tornado from three years ago damaged our old one... and I don't want to seem ungrateful. (I'm just tired and grumpy!) NOTE: You'll notice in the posts this week, I'll be specifically naming one or two Pet Peeves each day... but there will be others scattered throughout the blog. You'll have to find them... kind of like the Hidden Mickeys at Disney World. (I'll make it easy for you. I'll put the Hidden Pet Peeves in bold. If you're like me, you don't need the added pressure of trying to find them all by yourself.)

A little shout-out to one of my Commenters from yesterday... All great beauties since the beginning of time have taken advantage of an afternoon nap or two (or million). It's how we maintain our great beauty... until the sheet marks take over! Pet Peeve #5,002... I don't like when certain Commenters (Mikie) are funnier than me! (In case you missed it, that was a Hidden Mickey... a/k/a/Hidden Pet Peeve.)

And in response to the same Commenter from yesterday... Oh, yeah? (I'm known for my quick combacks.) It is MY deck! ALL mine! Except where the grill lives. That's where you cook wonderful meals I don't have to clean up. That part of the deck can be yours.

Watching 24 last night with Austin was fun. It's really getting exciting. That's all I'm going to say, but it was definitely the highlight of my day. (I'm calling the doctor today to see about getting adrenaline injections. Or I'm going to buy a case of Red Bull. Or I'm probably just going to keep on napping mid-afternoon. That seems to be the cheaper of the options out there.)

SUGGESTION: I know most of you with children subscribe to FamilyFun Magazine. If you don't, you must immediately do so! They have had two of their best issues ever these last two months (in my opinion). If you have this month's magazine, go to page 44. It is a tree house where you and your family stay and vacation in Takilma, Oregon. It looks like so much fun. And yet it is so far away. I always do at least one thing from each magazine. (I'm trying to keep my subscription going until I have grandchildren.) But, just in case you aren't already getting the magazine on a regular basis, I wanted to bring it to your attention and recommend getting a subscription for Mother's Day.

Pet Peeves #2 and #3 and #4

Pet Peeve #2 - I hate when I have a FANTASTIC hair day, and I'm not going anywhere but the laundry room all day.

Pet Peeve #3 - That being said, I hate having a bad hair day the day AFTER my FANTASTIC hair day when I have to be four different places... important places, too. Like the dentist, library, Wal-Mart, etc.

Pet Peeve #4 - I don't like songs that last over seven minutes. My attention span is five minutes max, and the last two minutes of a seven minute song completely puts me over the edge.

That's all for today. I really didn't think I had that many, but the more the day went on yesterday, they just kept pouring out of me! It feels good to get it off my chest.

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese (Low Calorie)

This recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbooks... Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly (Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker) by Phyllis Pellman Good. It has over 500 recipes in it, and everything I've tried so far has been very good. I have a crock pot macaroni and cheese recipe using Velveeta and some other rich ingredients (so good), but I fixed this particular recipe for Easter, and Mikie said he liked it best.

8 oz. elbow macaroni, cooked al dente
13 oz. can fat-free evaporated milk
1 cup fat-free milk
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
4 cups grated fat-free sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup grated fat-free Parmesan cheese

1. Spray inside of cooker with nonfat cooking spray. Then, in cooker, combine lightly cooked macaroni, evaporated milk, milk, eggs, 3 cups cheddar cheese, salt and pepper.

2. Top with remaining cheddar and Parmesan cheese.

3. Cover. Cook on low 3 hours.

I actually cook it 2 to 2 1/2 hours so it isn't quite as dry. It just depends on what you and your family prefer.

Try it! You'll like it!

Tomorrow I have a Mother's Day Seasonal Tradition that may de-stress a busy day in your household. Actually, we have been doing this for the past two years. (This will be year number three.) It may not work for you and your family, but it has been an extremely enjoyable answer to the age-old question, "If I visit the grandparents, mothers, and mothers-in-law on one Sunday afternoon, when do I get to celebrate my Mother's Day?" I may be the only one who ever asked that question, but if not, I'll be sharing our simple solution tomorrow, so tune in.

Have a good Tuesday. I hope your day is not too busy. I hope you get to have dinner with your family tonight. And I hope there is joy in your day.

Take care, and I'll talk to you Wednesday.