FROM THE KITCHEN 

SEAFOOD MAC AND CHEESE

My husband and I stopped at Crossroads Diner (a small family-owned restaurant) in Edinboro, PA last month for lunch.  They had so many tempting items on their menu it was difficult to decide on something.  I finally opted for their Seafood Mac and Cheese and I knew as soon as it was set down in front of me I had made the right choice! It was so good! I also knew I was going to have to try to recreate the recipe - soon.  This is the my version of the recipe and although it's not exact (pretty sure the cheeses are not the same) it is still very good. Please keep in mind I am not a dietician or a chef or an expert on serving sizes, etc. so I don't have any of that information for you. If I had to guess I would say this recipe will serve 6-8 as the main course, it makes a lot!

             (Seafood Mac and Cheese, Steamed Asparagus, Copy-Cat Red Lobster Garlic Rolls)                                          

Seafood Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
     3 T butter plus 1/4 cup, divided                                                  
     1/2 cup chopped onion
     2 large cloves garlic, minced  
     1/2 pound wild caught fresh shrimp,cleaned and deveined
     1/2 pound wild caught fresh scallops, cleaned and cut
     1/2 pound wild caught fresh salmon filet, cut in bite-size pieces
     1/4 cup flour  
     1 cup whole milk
     1 cup half and half, divided
     8 oz block Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
     8 oz block White Cheddar Cheese plus 4 oz block (4 oz optional), shredded
     6 oz shredded Parmesan Cheese
     16 oz box macaroni or small shells
     Salt and pepper to taste

1. Melt 3 T buttter in a skillet. Add onion and garlic and cook just until tender. Add the shrimp (my shrimp was quite large, I cut it to about the size of petite shrimp); cook and stir occasionally until shrimp begins to turn pink. Add the pieces of salmon and gently cook, stirring occasionally for 1-2 minutes. Finally add the scallops (again, mine were quite large; I cut them in quarters). Gently cook and stir for another 1 - 2 minutes; set aside and keep warm.
2. Cook macaroni according to manufacturers instructions. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup butter in large saucepan. Add 1/4 cup flour and cook, stirring constantly until mixture is well blended and bubbly. Turn heat to low and stir in 1 cup whole milk and 1/2 cup of the half and half. Turn heat to med and continue to cook and stir until mixture begins to thicken. Turn heat off and add the Monterey Jack Cheese (I shredded mine right over the pan), stir until well blended and creamy.  Add the White Cheddar (again, I shredded mine right over the pan) and stir until well blended. Repeat with the Parmesan. Turn the heat back on and stir in 1/2 cup half and half. Cook, stirring constantly, until cheeses are completely melted and half and half is fully incorporated. Add the macaroni to the cheese mixture and stir until well mixed.  Add the seafood mixture and stir until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Grease a 9" x 13" baking pan (I used glass) with butter. Pour the macaroni and cheese into the pan and spread it so it is evenly distributed.
4. Cover pan and place in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove cover and sprinkle 4 oz grated White Cheddar, if desired, over the top. Bake an additional 5 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and enjoy!

If you decide to try this I would love to hear your thoughts! :)
Happy Cooking!

FREE PATTERN - KNIT

SNOWDROP LACE SCARF

approx. 9.5" x 75"

This scarf is knit in two pieces.  I wanted the pattern to be the same on both sides in the front so I knit each side separately and then used the  3-needle bind off to finish it.  

Yarn used - Red Heart Super Saver - 1 skein medium purple

Knitting Needles - size 8 (plus a spare needle for the 3-needle bind off)

NOTE: I like my scarves nice and long!  If you would like a shorter scarf work less repeats on each side, making certain you work the same amount of repeats on each side.

NOTE: If you would like the scarf  less wide, cast on 8 less stitches; for a wider scarf 8 more stitches.

NOTE: Once pattern stitch is started the first 3 stitches and the last 3 stitches on each row form the border and are worked k1, p1, k1. 

NOTE: Slip stitches as if to purl.

Cast on 37 stitches.

Row 1: K2 tog, * p1, k1; repeat from * to last 3 stitches; p1, k2tog. 

Rows 2 - 4: K1, * p1, k1; repeat from * across row.

Begin working pattern as follows:

Row 5: Border (k1, p1, k1); k1, * yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5; rep from * to last 7 stitches, yo, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, yo, k1; work border (k1, p1, k1)

Rows 6, 8, 10, 12: Work border; p across to last 3 stitches; work border.

Row 7: Repeat row 5.

Row 9: Work border; k4, * yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo, k3; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, k1, work border. 

Row 11: Work border; k1, * yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1; rep from * to last 3 sts; work border.

Rows 13 - 206: Repeat Rows 5 - 12 24 more times.  Place these stitches on the spare needle. Cut yarn.

Repeat Rows 1 - 206 for the other half of the scarf; do not finish off.  Holding the two sides of the scarf, right sides tog, bind off in purl using the 3-needle bind off.

FREE PATTERN – KNIT

ZIGZAG OPENWORK DISHCLOTH

        I love handmade dishcloths! They last for a very long time, can be laundered over and over again, are absorbent and not only very portable but also fun to make…can’t lose!

        Below you will find my pattern for the ZIGZAG OPENWORK DISHCLOTH. It is a "sort of " mesh design.  I hope you enjoy making and using this dishcloth. Plan on making several, they make great gifts!  If you have any questions or find an error please send me an e-mail and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

ZIGZAG OPENWORK DISHCLOTH

2.5 oz Cotton med weight [4] yarn (I used Premier Home Cotton)

Size 8 knitting needles

Gauge is not important.

My dish cloth measures approx. 9" x 9."  If you want a smaller dishcloth you can use smaller needles or subtract stitches (even number) when casting on.  If you want a larger cloth, use larger needles or add (even number) stitches when casting on.

You may find it helpful to place a stitch marker when working row 5 after first 3 stitches on needle and before the last 3 stitches (right and left border). Transfer your markers as you come to them; remove them when working the last pattern repeat.

This can also be used as a facial cloth! 

Abbreviations:

 k   knit                                           rep   repeat                       yo   yarn over

 p   purl                                           tog   together

Cast on 47 stitches. (your cast on stitches should move easily on the needle - not too tight)

Row 1: K2tog, p1, * k1, p1; rep from * across row to last 2 sts. K2tog.

Rows 2 - 4: K1, * p1, k1; rep from * to end.

Begin pattern:

Row 5: K1, p1, k1 (border); k1, * k2tog; rep from * to last 3 stitches, k1, p1, k1.(border)

Row 6: K1, p1, k1; k1, * yo, k1; rep from * to last 3 stitches; k1, p1, k1.

Row 7: K1, p1, k1; * k2tog; rep from * to last 4 sts, k1; k1, p1, k1.

Row 8: Rep row 5.

Repeat rows 5-8 eleven times more (or to desired length).

Repeat rows 1-3 once; bind off in pattern.

Disclaimer: I realize there are literally hundreds of dishcloth patterns 'out there.'  To my knowledge this is not one of them. I worked this pattern up on a sleepless night with just a ball of yarn and a pair of knitting needles! You are free to sell any finished products from this pattern but please do not sell, transmit, or claim this pattern as your own.  I would appreciate a link back to me if you post your finished product on line. Thank you.

This is one of my latest projects - Peace Sign Granny Square Afghan.  I made this for my granddaughter who just turned eleven.  I didn't get the measurements but it is a very generous size!  She will be able to use it as a blanket on her twin size bed.

 The colors are more vibrant than what I was able to capture in the photos (a photographer I am not!). I found the pattern for the squares at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/peace-sign-granny-square. I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a size H crochet hook. There are six rows of five squares for a total of 30 blocks. I used soft white to join the squares and for the border. I then worked one row of each color (in sc) around the outside border to complete the afghan.  I love the way it turned out, love the colors!