Alpine Macaroni and Gruyere with Creme Fraiche

One can never have enough macaroni and cheese.  And by one, I am of course referring to myself.  I enjoyed the "Roasted Green Chile and Tomatillo Mac and Cheese" but did not find the silky creaminess I was hoping for.  I decided to crack open Macaroni & Cheese by Marlena Spieler once again in pursuit of creamy stovetop perfection.  The picture for "Alpine Macaroni and Appenzeller with Creme Fraiche," the first recipe in the book, stopped me immediately (see it on the right). It looks totally creamy and delicious, right?  Like the blue box, only fancy 'cause it has Creme Fraiche in it :)

Grated Beet Slaw

I'll be the first to admit that my fruit and veggie repertoire is fairly limited.  Crudite and ranch dip, anyone?  This is somewhat shameful knowing that my grandfather and uncle were both farmers and my grandparents still grow lots of their own fruits and veggies in a garden in their yard.  It's high time I started expanding my range, so I looked to the Weight Watchers PointsPlus Fruits & Veggies A to Z for a zesty, cool counterpart to my "Alpine Macaroni and Gruyere with Creme Fraiche." Early on in the alphabet, the "Grated Beet Slaw" stood out for its promise of tangy vinegar, sweet grapes, and awesome beet-tastic color.  Time to break out of my comfort zone and start grating those funky-lookin' roots!

Spaghetti with Garlic, Olive Oil, & Red Pepper Flakes

Lately I feel as though I don't want to cook.  Inspiration is hard to come by, and I'm just scouring the cupboards for something quick, easy, and minimally messy.  Enter the "From the Pantry" section of Giada De Laurentiis' Everyday Italian.  This section is really short - just three recipes.  It really doesn't matter, because the "Spaghetti with Garlic, Olive Oil, & Red Pepper Flakes" recipe is all this section needs.  Lazy weekday evening, here I come!