Real Mac n' Cheese

This is hands-down my husband's favorite dish. Anytime we have to bring something to a barbecue or potluck, he requests that I make this. The mustard really adds to the dish. I tried to approximate a measurement, but what I usually do is squirt the mustard sort of in a big zig-zag across the surface of the macaroni before mixing it in well and this seems to be just the right amount - experiment with what suits your tastes.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
1/2 stick butter (or 4 T.)
1 T. tabasco or Texas Pete, approx.
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)
2 eggs, beaten
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese
2 T. mustard, approx.
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.

Boil the macaroni in salted water and drain.

Place it in a baking dish - I always use my Pampered Chef stone baking dish (I think it's a 9x9).

Cut the butter into chunks and mix it in with the pasta until melted.

Add the Texas Pete sauce to the evaporated milk and stir about half of it into the pasta.

Add the eggs, half the cheese, and the mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well.

Bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Then remove and add half the remaining cheese and half the remaining milk. Stir and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.

Remove and add the last of the cheese and evaporated milk. Stir and return to the oven for another 5 - 10 minutes.

The mixture should be creamy and starting to thicken around the edges.

Best Chocolate Cake Ever

Hot Cocoa Cake

This is super-yummy. My husband doesn't even like chocolate cake normally, but we
fought over the last slice of this (he held me off at knife-point while he devoured that last piece).

Ingredients:

Cake:
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. + 1/8 t. cayenne powder
1 c. water
1/4 c. oil
1 T. vanilla extract
1 T. balsamic vinegar

Glaze:
1 1/2 c. confectioners sugar
2 T. water
2 T. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla extract

(I'm working on a different glaze for this cake - possibly using marshmallow creme - but haven't come up with one I really like yet)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.

Grease your cake pan and dust with cocoa powder - I usually dust it with my
less expensive, unsweetened cocoa powder rather than my favorite Ghirardelli.

Combine the first 6 ingredients, stirring until everything is pretty well blended together.

Add the last 4 ingredients and stir the mixture until smooth.

Pour the batter into the cake pan.

LICK THE SPOON - I'm telling you, it's divine.

Bake the cake for at least 30 minutes, probably more depending on the size and type of pan you use. Use a toothpick to check for doneness - if it comes out clean, the cake is done.

Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes before removing the cake. Allow the cake to completely cool before spreading the glaze over the top. Allow the glaze to run down the sides.

Now quick - eat the cake before your spouse comes along and sees it.