Once again it has been quite some time since the last time I have updated the blog. To be honest not too much has been going on. February has been a pretty uneventful month. I have been substitute teaching a good amount of the time which is always good.
For many people February is already the month of love but for Nate and I it is also the month of our anniversary. We celebrated our First Anniversary on February 27. It is crazy to think that we have been married a year already but at the same time so much has happened this year as well. We decided to take a weekend and celebrate this milestone in Memphis, TN. This was a good place for Nate and I to visit because we are such big music fans.
We arrived in Memphis on a Friday afternoon. We visited Sun Records first. This was the place where many famous artists were discovered. Some of those artists include Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. It was cool to stand in the room where these three men once recorded some of their hit songs.
We then went to the Rock N' Soul Museum which is a Smithsonian museum about the birth of Rock N' Roll and the history of music in Memphis. It was a very cool and informational museum. We were very glad we stopped there. We then made it over to the Peabody Hotel to see the famous Peabody Ducks. I couldn't get a picture though because the place was packed and the lighting was bad. It was still very cool. We got a bite to eat and then decided to head back to our hotel.
The next day our first stop was Graceland. You can't go to Memphis for sightseeing and not see Graceland. It is quite the expensive attraction but it is very worth the cost. We toured Elvis' home seeing where he lived, where he worked and many of his awards and flamboyant costumes.
We also had the chance to see his many cars and his airplanes.
It was all very cool and we had a great time.
After that tour we grabbed some food at a restaurant that I don't remember the name. The name was not important to the story. The cuisine and atmosphere are the interesting parts. I hadn't heard of this until recently but apparently something that is really popular to eat in Memphis and the south is Fried Chicken and Waffles. It is exactly what it sounds like. The dinner consists of a peice of fried chicken and a fluffy waffle as the second part of your main dish. Some of our church friends has recently been to this place and insisted that we go there for the chicken and waffles. Nate did just that. Here is a picture...he was very excited.
After the Chicken and Waffles place we toured the Gibson Guitar Factory. This was pretty cool. All of the guitars are hand made and a lot of work goes into them. I now understand why they are so darn expensive. This is a picture of the lobby as you walk into the factory.
After the Gibson Guitar Factory we just sat on Beale Street for a while listening to the music that was playing in the bars and restaurants around us. You don't have to even go inside to hear the music. We also got in some great people watching. When it started to get a little more crowded and late we decided to head back to the hotel. Walking around Graceland all day took it out of us. Back at the hotel we ate the top tier of our wedding cake and had some champagne to celebrate our first anniversary. The cake actually tasted pretty good for being a year old.
The next morning we went to Christ the King Lutheran Church in Memphis. It was a very nice service. They seem to have a thriving church and Lutheran school there. It was a very nice experience.
After church we grabbed some Lunch at Neely's Barbecue. We couldn't go to Memphis and not have some barbecue. I wanted to go to the Neely's because I am a big fan of their food network show. It was delicious! That brought our trip to a close. We had a very good time.
Last Sunday we had the famous Hanover Lutheran Church Sausage Supper. They have two a year so this is our second. Again Nate helped butcher the hogs and make the sausage on Friday and Saturday. I helped out in the kitchen with the ladies. It was a success and a great time.
Recently I have tried a new recipe from Rachael Ray that I love and I wanted to share on here. Naturally I love Mac and Cheese like anyone so this recipe takes this old favorite and puts a new spin on it. I love it! I don't generally like meat in my pasta but this broke me of that. Quick side note: I always cut the amount of onions Rachael uses in half. I hope you enjoy it if you try it!
Ingredients
6 slices bacon
Salt and pepper
1 pound whole wheat, short-cut pasta
2 pieces skinless chicken breasts, lightly pounded
EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling
1/2 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
4 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, quartered lengthwise and very thinly sliced
2 rounded tablespoons flour
1/2 cup cloudy apple cider or chicken stock
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded extra-sharp white cheddar cheese ( I used all white cheddar)
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
Chopped flat-leaf parsley or celery greens, for garnish
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 °F. Arrange the bacon on a slotted broiler pan or on a rack placed over a baking sheet and bake until crisp, about 15 minutes. Chop and reserve. Switch on the broiler and position the rack in the center of the oven.
Bring a pot of water to boil, salt it, add pasta and cook 1 minute less then instructions indicate, or until just shy of al dente. Drain and return to the pot.
While pasta is working, heat grill pan or cast-iron griddle over medium-high heat. Drizzle chicken with EVOO to coat lightly then season evenly with paprika, salt and pepper. Grill chicken for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer to a cutting board and halve the pieces lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.
While the chicken cooks, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until light golden brown and very soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute. Whisk in cider (or stock), then add milk. Bring to a boil and cook, whisking, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Add thyme and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in the cheese until melted.
Add the chicken, bacon and sauce to the pasta and transfer to a casserole. Broil until bubbling and browned, about 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley or celery greens.
That is all for now. God is good!
