Momou's Baked Macaroni

So how do I even begin to write about one of my most favorite and cherished dishes that has ever passed my lips? A recipe that I have loved since before I can even remember and a recipe that probably has more memories than any other. It is time for "that" blog...Momou's Macaroni. I need to stress to you that this is not, I repeat NOT your normal macaroni. Unless the macaroni dish that you bring to mind has sugar and evaporated milk in it. Because my friends...this one does.

There is nothing like this macaroni. Pure creaminess topped with pure sweetness. I have spent so many family dinners/holiday meals with this very macaroni present. If you called Momou right this second and asked her what Leesha's (that's how she refers to me) favorite Momou recipe was, she would know. Her Momou's macaroni.

I have to share 2 particular memories about Momou and this macaroni because this is "that" kind of recipe. One with many stories attached. First of all, when I was younger Momou would frequently come to stay the night with us. What precious times those were. I can remember how exciting a school day was just knowing that Momou would be waiting in the carpool line to pick us up. She would then take us to get a snack, our usual ICEE and bag of chips. Once back to our home, she would pop her trunk and there would be her glass 9x13 dish with all of the macaroni ingredients stacked up in it. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Another sweet memory of Momou's sweet macaroni is that every single Sunday during hunting season I would know that I would be having macaroni for dinner. Do you want to know how I know this? Well, my dad, uncle and grandpa would hunt each and every weekend from Friday to Sunday and then head to Momou's for Sunday lunch. And every Sunday she would make her famous Sunday lunch. Chicken Fricassee, tomato gravy, rice and gravy, rolls and SWEET MACARONI! And that meant that Momou would always send some home to me. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

So how do you make this treasured macaroni? See below for this secret and get ready to fall in love...

Momou's Baked Macaroni
1 (12 oz.) package of long macaroni (Yes, this exists! The fancy name is Perciatelli. You may have to search hard but it is worth it. Try Kroger or Brookshires)
1 (12 oz.)can of evaporated milk
1 stick butter
2 tablespoons sugar OR MORE (you can bet that I add at least 1/4 cup)
6 to 8 oz. Velveeta cheese

In a large pot put water to boil. Salt to taste. Put in macaroni. (Momou breaks hers in half before adding to boiling water.) Boil until tender. Drain. Pour macaroni and all other ingredients into a 9 x 13 glass dish. Stir well. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Now here's the trick...you HAVE to keep a watchful eye on the macaroni. Once the evaporated milk is just about gone you have to turn off the oven right then and there and let the macaroni sit. And then you will be assured of creamy and sweet macaroni.

A favorite pastime of mine, my aunts, sisters and Momou is to "try" the macaroni once it was out of the oven. We did this without barely anyone noticing. We did this by grabbing a lose edge of a noodle whose end was a little toasted at the top of the dish. Just simply pull this toasted end and it will just slide right out all creamy and yummy on the other end.

I hope this dish finds its way onto your table over the next Sunday lunch or holiday dinner. Or even a random weekday night! I assure you that your day will be much better knowing that Momou's macaroni is at the end of it. Enjoy!

P.S. The picture above is of Momou, my husband and I on our wedding day. We were showing Momou the goblets that we were using. They were the goblets made especially from Momou and Grandpa's 50th anniversary party. Jason had the larger goblet that was engraved "Lut" and mine was the smaller goblet engraved "Narcille". Priceless...

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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate? Good... Mayonnaise? Good... Put them together? Even better! I'm so serious about this. I am not lying to you even one little bit. Chocolate and mayonnaise make a delicious combo. So what do we have here? CHOCOLATE. MAYONNAISE. CAKE. Oh, did I forget to mention that last little part about cake? Well you heard right!

Last Saturday night was a much needed girls night. First thing first... was to get the men (precious as they are) out of the house. Which is exactly what we did:) Then settle in over lots of food and talk nonstop. Which is exactly what we did:) Then came the main event: dessert time with a good girly movie. And this is where our Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake came into the picture...

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
1 package chocolate cake mix (with pudding)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup water
3 eggs
confectioners' sugar

In large mixing bowl, blend all ingredients at low speed for 30 seconds. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until cake pulls away from sides of pan. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove and cool completely. Dust with confectioner's sugar.

Why add mayonnaise you might ask? Pure moistness! Imagine this sweet chocolate cake sprikled with powdered sugar and topped with vanilla ice cream. Now I don't mind bragging on these recipes because they are not mine. They belong to Momou.

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Quick Bread

I hate that it has been over a month since my last post! But what a perfect time to pledge to be more faithful to my blog but than the new year! I just watched Julia and Julia again and this time with my hubby (who had never seen the movie). Watching Paul and Julia Child and Julie and Eric Powell with my hubs made me so happy. I realize that I am married to my own Paul, my own Eric. Paul and Eric supported their wives in their other true love...cooking. They supported their dreams, ambitions and desires all having to do with food. And Jason is just the same. He can't wait to see what life might have in store for me and my passion of cooking and for that I am so so so grateful...and lucky.

Speaking of my wonderful man, I made him a special dinner as part of his Christmas present. Not just any dinner but all of his favorites. Portabella Mushroom Tortellini and Angel Food Cake...all by candlelight at that! I decided to throw in a Momou twist and make a Momou recipe somewhere in that menu. And I found JUST the right recipe. Now the name is kind of bland BUT the taste is delicious and perfect for my man. The recipe was for Quick Bread but it was truly biscuits that had ranch dressing in it! Biscuits AND Ranch dressing...more of his favorites!

The other best part is that this recipe calls for three ingredients! ONLY three! And it took just a few minutes to whip up! So break out that muffin pan and get ready to use this recipe very often. These zesty muffins go with ANY dish!

Quick Bread
1 cup self rising flour
2 Tablespoons salad dressing (I used Ranch Dressing of course!)
1/2 cup milk

Combine all ingredients and mix to a lumpy batter. Spoon in a 6-cup muffin tin. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Muffins will be white. Oh and I did add a dash of cayenne pepper for good measure. What can I say? I just like spice in my life!

There you have it folks! Nothing to it! This is one of the few Momou newspaper recipes that have the name of who contributed it. So thank you Mrs. Jimmy Ray Everett. Your recipe is delish!

And to my husband: As someone once said, "You are the bread to my butter and the breath to my life." I love you.

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Ginger Cookies

This is a special post and one that is written with love and memories close to my heart. This blog is done in loving memory of my grandfather, "Lut" Hudson Joseph Mayeux, Momou's husband of 70 years. "Grandpa" left us last week to go home to be with our Father in Heaven. My heart breaks to think of my precious Momou without her soul mate but I know Momou is a believer and she knows that one day she will see Grandpa again when she meets him in Heaven.

I was not able to go home to Louisiana to attend Grandpa's funeral last week so I did what any food lover would do in attempt to create comfort in a time like this. I baked. But I didn't just bake anything, I baked Grandpa's favorite cookies, "Ginger Cookies. You should see this recipe for Ginger Cookies. It is written in Momou's handwriting (in pencil mind you) on very yellowed notebook paper with all sorts of stains dated with the year "1940" on it. This my friends is when you know you have a good little recipe in your hands.

These cookies are truly amazing. That Grandpa was onto something:) When you bake these cookies your entire house will smell like the Autumn season. I promise! You know, I think that Yankee Candle might need to create a candle with this very scent and name it "Ginger Cookie". I guarantee it will be a best seller because the smell of these cookies fresh out of the oven is to die for! It smells of all sorts of delicious spices mixed in with the secret ingredient of molasses. I think this recipe will be one that you will want to whip up each holiday season. In honor of Grandpa, I hope to create a tradition to make these cookies each year right before Thanksgiving.

Ginger Cookies
1 cup sugar
1 egg
4 tablespoons molasses
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2/3 cups cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix cooking oil and sugar.
3. Add egg and beat well until mixture thickens.
4. Stir in molasses.
5. Sift all dry ingredients together and add to mixture.
6. Make balls size of large marbles.
(Bonus step added by me: Roll balls in Sugar In The Raw. You will
need about 20 small packets).
7. Put balls on cookie sheet 3 inches apart.
8. Cook 8 minutes.

Makes 4 dozen.

If you follow this recipe to the "t", your cookies will come out perfect...you mark my words. Moist and perfectly sized little cookies. I hope you enjoy them and share them with others. Even though I was not able to make it to Louisiana for Grandpa's funeral, I was lucky to be able to share these cookies with family here in TN who knew what these cookies meant. And that made me feel even more comforted...

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Rice Cooker Potatoes

Right now, blogging about a Momou recipe is all I can think to do to somewhat feel close to my family in Louisiana. Today is a special and bittersweet day as my family will gather to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday and his 90 years of life...and I can't be there. I figured that since I always feel close to home when I blog a Momou recipe that this will have to do for now.

On a lighter note, who exactly has ever heard of rice cooker potatoes? That's right...potatoes cooked in a rice cooker. I have always heard of Momou's famous Rice Cooker Potatoes but could never bring to mind a time that I have had them. Well, I am here to tell you that I know now why these little potatoes are so famous. They are DELICIOUS and easy! If you have some potatoes and a rice cooker (if you don't, then I suggest you run out to get one right now) then you are in business! I know it doesn't sound like anything special but I promise these potatoes were not too shabby for Lisa! The really great thing is that you can add whatever your little heart desires to this recipe...various spices, cheese, sausage...you name it! See below to find out more and I am warning you that this may be just the easiest recipe you ever did see!

Rice Cooker Potatoes
1/2 stick butter
4-5 medium potatoes-peeled and cut into small pieces
1/2 small onion sliced
salt and pepper to taste (Of course a little Tony's too!)

Mix potatoes, onion and salt and pepper in bowl. Put margarine in rice cooker and add potato mixture. Turn rice cooker on. Cook about 1/2 to 3/4 hour or until the rice cooker turns off. Stir occasionally.

And there you have it...done and done! These potatoes remind me of a zesty hash brown dish. What a cheap and quick recipe and one that you truly can fix and forget! In a day where life is so busy and it is important to save money,this recipe is perfect to have on hand. The special part of this recipe is that it is a "Momou original" written in her handwriting which means it is definitely a recipe to add to your "tried and true" collection. Enjoy!

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