When the leaves start to change colors and the evenings dip just a bit cooler there is nothing better than comfort food recipes to warm you up. It’s just barely starting to cool off here in Colorado. Usually by this time of year we’ve seen some snow but so far this fall the streets have been dry and the warm weather has given us time to enjoy the changing of the leaves.
I needed a bit of comfort food this week to help me feel more like the season has actually changed and we aren’t enjoying some slightly extended summer. This macaroni and cheese recipe pulls together some of my favorite fall flavors with the creamy & sharp Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese from Hickory Farms.
Start out by grating up 2 1/2 cups of cheese. This is about 3/4 of a 10 oz package. Set the cheese aside and dice up a green apple and mince a clove of garlic. Start the macaroni boiling in a pot and cook 4 strips of bacon in a frying pan. Drain the macaroni and set the bacon aside to drain while you work on the rest of the recipe.
Saute 2 tps butter with the apples and garlic in a large sauce pan. Allow the pan to cook until the apples are soft and the garlic is fragrant.
Add your 2 cups of the pre-grated cheddar cheese to the pan alongside 1 1/2 cups of milk. Stir until the cheese has melted. You should have an almost soupy consistency. This means it’s time to add the macaroni. Turn the heat down and allow the dish to thicken. Now is the time to add the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and the crumbled or chopped bacon (save some for garnish).
Once the mixture is a perfect mac & cheese consistency, serve in a bowl. I’m a big fan of serving mac & cheese as a standalone entree but this would also work well as a side. Store any left overs in a baking dish and toss in the oven to reheat!
[tasty-recipe id=”2565″]Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by Hickory Farms. All opinions, ideas and writing are my own. I was compensated and received a product sample as inspiration for this post.
When the work week is go-go-go it’s hard to make dinner plans that involve more than grabbing something when running from one place to another. When I have a calm night at home the last thing I want is to have to make an elaborate meal the dirties up half the kitchen – which is why meals that are ready in 30 minutes or less are perfect for me.
Using Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork, I was able to whip up this delicious dish in less than half an hour AND have left overs for lunch this week. Perfect for any night of the week, Smithfield Marinated Pork is available at Safeway and comes in several delicious flavors that can be tossed into the oven or on the grill for a quick meal.
I used Applewood Smoked Bacon Pork Loin Filet for my dish because bacon is my favorite compliment for the rich earthy flavor of brussel sprouts. Continue Reading…
My grandma (and every women in my family for that matter) makes pork chops exactly the same way. Pan fried and seasoned with mustard. When I learned that Hickory Farms had a new Smoky Onion Mustard as a part of their Simply Hickory product line I was super excited to try out a family favorite recipe with a new twist.
The Smoky Onion Mustard adds the perfect amount of flavor into the meat, just smoky and sweet enough to add a unique finish to the dish. As a part of the Simply Hickory Farms family, there are no preservatives or MSG – which means theres no chance that I’ll have a headache later in the night.
With just two core ingredients this quick weeknight recipe is perfect for tossing together after a busy day. From prep to table the full meal takes less then an hour to serve. Continue Reading…
Meatloaf is one of my favorite fall back recipes during times where it feel like we have something going on every day of the week. Ideal for assembling in advance I like to mix up this recipe and store in the fridge for a couple of days so I can just toss it in the oven as I walk through the door.
This comfort food recipe combines some of my favorite things – Hot Peppers, Bacon, and Hickory Farms. With just a touch of Hot Pepper Bacon Jam from Simply Hickory Farms this bacon meatloaf recipe is a combination of sweet and smokey flavors that everyone will love.
