Weekend Recap and Cheesy Pasta Bake!

   This weekend was the hubby’s annual family reunion, which we look forward to all summer long. This was my fourth year to go but this year was a bit different, I’m now an official part of the family and I got to stay with the hubby all night, and we cooked a meal for the first time.

   There were Mario Kart races, boat rides, relaxing, jet skiing, lots of good times and food, tons of food!  We ate breakfast, then snacks, then a nice big lunch, then a lot more snacks, then lots of pizza and after more snacks and deserts, more food than anyone needs to eat! Like I said this year we offered to make lunch on Saturday, we decided to make a pretty simple Cheesy Pasta Bake.

Me and the Hubby!

Us and the In Laws! Love them!!

Intense Mario Kart Battle

the fam and cousins!

Awesome view and Hubby riding the Jet Ski

   On our way back home we stopped by and picked up our first fur baby. That’s right we got a puppy, an adorable Australian shepherd mix puppy! She is precious, adorable, and found her voice about midnight the first night home. I will post updates and training methods over the next few weeks. She is only 4 weeks old now but is not bad at listening for the most part, soon as she loses the annoying yipping all night we will be good.

TESLA

She looks so sweet when she sleeps

rope is as big as her but she loves it

   Now who is ready for the awesomeness that is the Cheesy Pasta bake? I know I would eat another helping of it if any of it had made it home!

Cheesy Pasta Bake 
Recipe adapted from the one found here
Ingredients

• 1 package penne pasta
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 ½ cups milk
• ½ cup half and half
• 1 ¾ cup of Italian blend cheese
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic powder
• Italian seasoning
• panko

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and half-and-half; cook, whisking constantly, 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheese, and remaining seasonings to taste
3. Stir together pasta and cheese mixture, and pour into lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Top with panko
4. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

 NOTE: To make ahead make sauce and pasta but do not combine, refrigerate up to one day and then combine (warming up sauce helps) and cover with panko and proceed as directed.  

To go with it we made garlic cheese bread

1. We took a french loaf and sliced it 
2. Soften butter and then add a couple tablespoons of garlic powder and mix into a paste.
3. Then brush it on the bread and add some cheese on top then toast in the oven for about 10 minutes. 

We did cheese on half of them and just the butter on the other half 

Hope you enjoy this delicious recipe!!