Blue Ribbon Mac and Cheese

We had two big parties in the month of May--one for Will's graduation and one for Memorial Day.  And at both parties we served some form of bar-b-cue.  Which means, of course, that we also served macaroni and cheese.



Don't know what it's like at your house, but around here homemade mac & cheese is an essential side dish for bar-b-cue.  It's also a favorite side dish for a lot of other meals, and truth be told it's a fine main dish as well.  But not just any old mac & cheese will do.

So many people have asked for my mac & cheese recipe that I thought it best to share it here.  If you're looking for something fancy, this isn't for you.  But if you want plain, unsophisticated, unadulterated goodness, you've come to the right place.

Blue Ribbon Mac & Cheese

12 ounces (3 cups) elbow macaroni
6 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
pepper to taste
4 cups milk
16 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, cut into cubes

Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.  Spray a 9" x 13" pan with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For cheese sauce, melt butter in a large saucepan.  Stir in flour, salt, and pepper.  Add milk; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.  Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes more.  Add cheese and stir until melted.  Stir macaroni into sauce, then pour mixture into prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until bubbly and browned.  (This makes enough for a small crowd.  I make half this amount for small family dinners and double this amount for a party.)

**Click here for a printable copy.**

Bon appetit, y'all!

Do you have a most-requested recipe?  Please share it in the comments!

I'm joining Jen at Beauty and Bedlam for Tasty Tuesday and Beth at Home Stories A to Z for Tutorials and Tips.

Faux Roman shade

I love the look of a Roman shade, don't you?  Such a wonderful way to add a burst of pattern and color without the busy lines of some window treatments.



Years ago I created a method for making no-sew faux Roman shades.  With hundreds of thousands of views, that tutorial is my most popular post of all time.

I've been in a mood for change, though, so I wanted to replace the dark fabric with something lighter and brighter.  But I had a couple of problems:

1. This window faces west, and light fabrics let too much light through to look good, even when doubled.
2. This window is 57 inches wide, so even extra-wide fabrics didn't quite cover the whole space.

The nice lady at the fabric store suggested that I line the shades with black-out liner.  This was a very logical suggestion, and it would have worked well for the nice lady at the fabric store, who is an expert seamstress.

I am not an expert seamstress.  I have never been able to get the lining of anything to lie flat.  So that option wouldn't work.  I tried to glue the liner to the shade, but that didn't work well, either.  Still couldn't get that thing to lie flat.  All I got was a bunched-up mess.

As I stood there surveying my bunched-up mess, I said to myself, "If only there were some way just to get the liner to cover the window without having to attach it to the shade."



Then the light bulb turned on.  I cut a small piece of black-out liner to cover the top of each window and simply stapled them in place.



Couldn't have been easier.



The lining panels are completely hidden behind the shade.  They just quietly hang there and do their job.  I may write them a love song.

Now for the second problem!  Once lining issue was solved, I was free to use any fabric I liked, but I still had the challenge of the extra-wide windows.

Then I ran across the Kavita tablecloth from World Market.  The colors were exactly what I wanted, and best of all it was 60 inches wide.  More than enough for my window!

I bought the 60"x120" tablecloth and followed my own tutorial to create a new Roman shade. (It uses a secret tool: the oval tension rod!)  I'm so happy with the way it turned out.

I especially like the way the pattern of the tablecloth provides interest on each side.  I was simply careful to hang the shade so that the design is centered on the window.

A brand-new look for my kitchen window for a little bit of time and less than $40.00.  I'm so happy with it!

What do you think?  See any tablecloth-cum-Roman-shades in your future?

I'm joining these great parties:

Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now

Weekend Wrap-Up at Tatertots and Jello

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Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, we pause--

We remember.

We bow our heads

And we give thanks

For those who have freely given their lives

That others may live free.