Saturday, January 21, 2012

National Cheese Lover's Day

We live in a nation of many Holidays and celebrations:


New Year's Eve


Valentine's Day:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9dc38b3127ccec633f0fb561600000040O00GaM2LNw4Yg9vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/ 

St.Patrick's Day:


Easter



Mother's Day
Father's Day 


The Fourth of July


Halloween

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cf34b3127ccef8cae9f9a12f00000030O00GaM2LNw4Yg9vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


Thanksgiving 


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8ce33b3127ccec50da406904900000040O00GaM2LNw4Yg9vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

and Christmas

  to name a few.

However, we at Urban Hounds have discovered a new holiday of great importance: National Cheese Lovers Day!!!! which was yesterday,  January 20.


http://mullinsfarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/national-cheese-lovers-day.jpg
What is more deserving of a holiday then the tastiest, yummiest food out there, beloved by hounds and humans both (even if its not particularly good for them.)  So in honor of the big day we are sharing two Macaroni and Cheese Recipes, one for hounds and one for humans.

Mac and Cheese for Hounds



Note from mom: This is not a particularly healthy recipe so keep portions small, it make a nice kibble topper.


  • 1/2 elbow macaroni
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 bag of shredded Italian blend cheese (low fat is fine)
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes (I used whole tomatoes because that' what we had but diced would be better)
  • 1 12 oz package of frozen green beans or peas
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bring a pot of salted water to boil for cooking the macaroni.  Cook the macaroni to al dente and set aside.


Meanwhile heat the oil in a sauce pan over medium heat and gradually whisk in the flour, keep whisking until the flour turns a golden brown color.  Gradually whisk in the milk.  Keep whisking until the milk and flour mixture thickens up into a nice sauce consistency.   Add the cheese and stir until it has melted.  Then add the tomatoes and green beans and stir well.  Finally, stir in the cooked macaroni.


Spray a muffin tin (mini muffins are fine) with no stick cooking spray.  Spoon macaroni mixture into all of the muffins tins.   Bake 35 minutes until golden brown.




Buffalo Style Mac and Cheese for Humans (adapted from www.epicurious.com)




  • 1 1lb elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups of chopped green onions
  • 8 tbsp of butter, divided
  • 2 large garlic cloves, chopped 
  • 1 large white onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1 pound extra-sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (about 4 cups packed)
  • 8 ounces provolone cheese, coarsely grated (about 2 cups packed)
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tbsp Frank's Hot Sauce (plus more for serving)
  • 1/4 cup of blue cheese, such as danish blue, crumbled
  • 1 package of frozen buffalo style chicken tenders, thawed and diced
Cook macaroni in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain; transfer to very large bowl. Mix in green onions.

Melt 6 tablespoons butter in same large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cover; sauté until onion is soft, stirring often, about 6 minutes. Add flour; stir 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat and simmer sauce 2 minutes. Add all cheeses, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Whisk until cheeses melt and sauce is smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Season to taste with more salt and pepper, if desired. Mix cheese sauce into macaroni and stir in the 4 tbsp of Franks' Hot Sauce. Mix in chicken pieces. Mound mixture in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish.  Sprinkle over the blue cheese.   Bake 30 to 45 minutes until top is just brown and sauce is bubbling.





13 comments:

  1. I missed a cheese-lover's holiday?!?! Looks delicious!

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  2. I can't believe I missed a holiday for my favourite food.

    Macaroni Cheese is one of the Boy Of The House's favourite meals so I think I will have to get the family to make the dog version for me. Thanks so much for sharing those great recipes.

    Love and licks, Winnie

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  3. Yippee! A day just for cheese!! I love those Mothers and Fathers Day pics!! What yummy looking recipes. That Buffalo style mac and cheese sounds great and it is now my solution for supper tonight! Thanks!

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  4. Yay! Happy Cheese Day! Both of those recipes look yummy! I love the recap of the holidays pix too!

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  5. Thank you for the award!

    Keep the macaroni, but we are all over the cheese!

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  6. Loved your post and copied the recipes which looked incredible!

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  7. I love all your holiday pictures :-)
    I did not there is Cheese Lover's Day, but what an incredible holiday! I love cheeeeese!!
    Your dishes looks so yummy. I should extend the holiday and go get some cheese!

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  8. This is our kinda day! Cheese Day!!!
    Benny & Lily

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  9. We can wait to try these, Thanks, Hopped by to say Hi!!

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  10. Oh-my-pug! Some of your costumes make me want to gag they are so CUTE! I am heading to the kitchen to convince my human to make me some of these cheesy delicacies. They do look pawsome!

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  11. Cheese day! What could be better than that! Thanks fur the recipes, they both sound delicious!

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  12. Your pictures are adorable and the pups look like they love to pose for their photos. We love it! CHEESE is a magic word at our house. We will do anything for cheese. We can't wait to try the recipes.

    Nina, Myshka, Sasha, Betsy, Lucy, Phoebe and Lily

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