Liz | The Road Home

Sunday Morning

As I was making coffee this morning, I looked out and saw the rising sun reflected in Wild Thing’s windshield. It just looked like such a happy promise for a beautiful day…

And it was!

The rising sun hit not only the windshield, but a few clouds …

… and the vapor trail from a morning jet.

After breakfast, Bear and I took a ride in the Jeep – East on our road to Echo Lake.

The lake is still frozen and the scene was far more wintry than the valley. The sun was warm, the sky was clear and blue and we had a nice walk along the northern shoreline.

Sunday Morning.

Big Sky on a sunny day: early March

Yet another lesson on perspective

March arrived in the same way that February left: Full of sunshine!

…in more ways than just the weather.

Last Sunday, I had a stomach bug. You know the thing…24 hours of misery during which I considered pre-writing my obituary. At about the 24 hour mark, the fever spiked, I broke out in a sweat and then…done. I took a shower and felt like I’d never been sick. I googled “24 hour stomach bug” and it says that it does not exist. Huh.

Anyway, onward. But, it kind of set the tone for the week and between this, that and the other I was feeling frustrated and annoyed and completely out of sorts.

Then I read the news.

And thought about my life.

And counted my blessings: BIG TIME! I live in a place where I do not have to worry about walking out in my yard and being shot or bombed or kidnapped, i.e. I am safe. I am warm. I have plenty of food. I have Bear and Auggie and good work. I have a loving family and wonderful neighbors.

There is more, but the point is that Life is Good for me and mine.

And there is sunshine.

I am grateful for everything. Mostly I am grateful that I have peace and safety. I seriously cannot imagine what it must be like in some parts of the world and I found myself praying this week for those that do not have peace and safety.

Perspective is interesting.

Mine shifted yet again.

It was a wonderful week and weekend.

Waxing half moon in the clear cold sky

The nights have been clear and cold. The waxing moon has been bright and nearly overhead when Bear and I take our last evening walk. Last night, we were out at 6:30 p.m. With sunset now at 6:15, there was still light in the sky so after we returned, I went back out with the camera to shoot the moon and enjoy it just a bit more.

The days have been mostly sunny and above freezing so the snow continues its slow retreat. February has been unusually pleasant here in northwest Montana. Bear, Auggie and I have been enjoying being outside as much as possible. And despite the quickly dropping temperature as the sun goes down, it is beautiful to be out, especially when there is a…

…waxing half moon in the clear cold sky.

Mac ‘n Cheese for One

Growing up, my Mama made Mac ‘n Cheese in 1 pot…actually in a Corning brand casserole dish that went from stove top to oven. But, we had a gas range and I have electric. So, I do get a pot dirty, but that’s it…one pot, then into a casserole dish and into the oven.

The method is cook the macaroni, drain it, add butter and flour to the hot macaroni and let the butter melt and the flour cook a little. Add milk and let it thicken. Add the cheese and cook until all melt-y and then into the oven until bubbly.

My Mama has a new secret ingredient which she shared with me…add a little dry mustard with the flour. It just adds a little extra something.

I’m not that fond of leftover Mac ‘n Cheese. Some time ago, I saw a recipe that served four which used:

2 cups macaroni
2 cups milk
2 T flour
2 T butter
2 cups cheese

That’s easy to remember. So, I started making a single serviing with 1/4 cup, etc. That is a nice serving, but it is a hearty serving and I’ve taken to making it with 1/3 cup, i.e.:

1/3 cups macaroni
1/3 cups milk
1/3 T flour
1/3 T butter
1/3 cups cheese
***and a bit of the dry mustard.

I have small 5 1/2 inch deep pie plates and they hold the single serving perfectly.

And you can add other stuff!! Today, it was a chopped collard leaf and some black forest ham.

I have no idea why anyone would want to make the boxed stuff!

By the time the water is boiling, I have everything ready to go.

The macaroni cooks for 6 minutes (I threw the greens in for the last 2 minutes), drain, add the butter and flour and the dry mustard.
Add the milk.
Add the cheese – it was Gouda today.
After the cheese is melted and the sauce has thickened a bit more, pour it all in a baking dish.

Top with some bread crumbs – these are from my own bread and I learned a secret from Melissa Clark of the N.Y.Times. Make the crumbs from bread that is not completely dried out and leave them about the size you see here vs grinding them into sawdust. These make a much nicer “crust” on anything and crisp up wonderfully if you pan fry them in just a wee bit of butter or olive oil to go with lots of things for a bit of crunch.

Put that beautiful little dish of Mac ‘n cheese in the oven (350) for about 15 minutes.

So, then … by the time you…