Bacon, Date & Pistachio Encrusted Mac & Cheese

An accidental success gave birth to this unusual recipe.  My roommates and I threw a party where we served homemade macaroni & cheese and bacon-wrapped dates, alongside many other finger foods.  The next day, I heated up some leftover mac n' cheese and, as happens from time to time, it got mixed into the candied dates.  Naturally, I just ate them all together.  BOOM!  A creamy, luscious, taste-bud popping classic was born.

This twist on your everyday mac n' cheese replaces the quotidien bread crumb topping with a mixture of smoky bacon, sweet dates and salty pistachios.  Elevate your next bowl of mac n' cheese with these decadent ingredients for a TO.DIE.FOR comfort meal.

Bacon, Date & Pistachio Encrusted Macaroni & Cheese

Your Favorite Macaroni/Pasta & Cheese
5 Slices of Bacon, cooked
5-6 Pitted Dates
1/4 C. Pistachios, shelled (almonds would also work well)
Something green for garnish, like thyme

Preheat the oven to 350.

Place your cheesy pasta into a greased baking dish.  Set aside.

Roughly chop your bacon, dates & pistachios into similar sized pieces.  Mix them together in a small bowl.  Evenly cover the pasta with the bacon mixture.  Bake for about 15 minutes until the pasta is heated through and the topping has ever so slightly browned.  Garnish with thyme to finish.

BBQ Raspberry Chicken Sandwich

This is what I like to call the Perfect Brunch Sandwich.  Sometimes for Sunday Brunch, I’m just not in the mood for breakfast.  And sometimes a heavy lunch causes too much lethargy even for a lazy day.  So, this sandwich fits splendidly in between.  I like to serve it small, because the ingredients are rich and sinful.  The combination of flavors in this sandwich marries beautifully.  It is smoky and sweet, with just the right amount of crunch. 

1 Grilled chicken breast, thinly sliced

4 Ham slices

3-4 T. Soft goat cheese

2 T. Raspberry preserves

3 T. BBQ sauce

¼ Red onion, thinly sliced

Cilantro, roughly chopped

Small loaf of French bread

In a small bowl, mix the raspberry preserves and BBQ sauce until combined. 

Slice the bread laterally.  Spoon a thin layer of sauce onto each slice of bread.  On the top slice, spread the goat cheese.  Set this slice aside.  On the bottom slice of bread, place the ham, chicken, onion and cilantro.  Carefully place the top and bottom layers together.  Slice the sandwich in half and share it with your best brunch pal.  Serve with a light salad on the side. 

French Silk Pie

This is one of my favorite desserts, hands down.  I remember always thinking the slices you’d get at the diner were too small – I always wanted a second.  So, I decided to learn to make it myself.  This is the result.  It is smooth and rich and sweet and salty and amazingly decadent.  And, you probably have all the ingredients to make it right now! 

1 C. butter

1 1/2 C. sugar

4 eggs

1 t. vanilla

6 T. cocoa powder

3/4 t. salt

Pie crust

Whipped cream and melted chocolate, to garnish

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar.  When light and fluffy, add 1 egg at a time and beat for 5 minutes after each egg.  *It's important to beat each egg for 5 full minutes so that the pie will set.  After the fourth egg, add the vanilla and cocoa powder.  Taste and season with up to 3/4 t. salt – it really develops the chocolate’s flavor.  Pour the mixture into a baked and cooled pie crust and place in the refrigerator.  Allow pie to set for 3 hours and then garnish with melted chocolate and whipped cream.