BECAUSE IT'S THURSDAY?

"if you're happiest when you're complaining...then you're a grouch like me"

FLASHBACK january 29, 2014 (yeah, i know...huge flashback)
i'm having lunch with a friend and she mentions it's national curmudgeon day. man!! i missed it! but it gets me thinking. i know a lot of curmudgeons. i mean A LOT of curmudgeons. and i think, if you take a sec to look around you, so do you.

curmudgeon /kərˈməjən/ :  a person who is easily annoyed or angered and who often complains

we all have our moments when it seems we fit the definition but, to be an ACTUAL curmudgeon, it has to be a way of life. it has to almost make you joyous to complain. and, every morning...i mean every. single. morning...all the curmudgeons i know are spouting their annoyances and complaints on my facebook time line. how do i know they're curmudgeons and not just having a bad day? because it's always complaints. they are never, ever, happy. it's day, after day, after day of: the dog ate my homework...it's too cold/wet/cloudy outside...the sun is too bright...this fire is too warm...my bed was too comfortable...my football/baseball team didn't win...my husband/wife is breathing too loud...argh argh argh...

don't get me wrong? i love having curmudgeons in my life. although i always wonder what these people would do if they had real problems, i am completely entertained by their posts. they make me laugh. so, if you are one of my curmudgeons: keep it up, sunshine!! 

today
like i said, national curmudgeon day was yesterday. it's too late to celebrate your favorite curmudgeon...or your curmudgeonliness (i may, or may not, have just made that up)...but it's not too early to prepare for next year. so...in honor of the day, here are a few of my favorite curmudgeons. maybe they remind you of someone you know?

walt (clint eastwood)~gran torino

mickey (burgess meredith)~rocky

archie bunker (carrol o'connor)~all in the family

scrooge (reginald owen)~a christmas carol

carl (ed asner)~up

professor snape (alan rickman)~harry potter

and my all time favorite. also, proof that women can be curmudgeons:

ouiser boudreaux (shirley mcclain)~steel magnolias

HAPPY BELATED NATIONAL CURMUDGEON DAY!!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"mamas in the kitchen with the mac n' cheese..."

FLASHBACK january 24, 2014
another mandatory friday night means we need to come  up with another dish for dinner. that means i get to try another pinterest recipe!! i find the perfect side dish involving 4 of my favorite things: beer, bacon, cheese, and pasta!!

TODAY
it's a comfort food kind of day. and my mandatory friday night side would actually make a delicious main course for a simple monday dinner. you should give this pinterest success a try!!

BEER BACON MAC AND CHEESE

ingredients:

12 oz thick cut bacon
2 tbs unsalted butter
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground chile de arbol (or cayenne to taste)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c beer (i used great lakes christmas ale)
1/2 c chicken broth
2 c milk
1 tsp worcestshire sauce
1 8oz bag of shredded mild cheddar cheese
16 oz dry elbow pasta

boil pasta until al dente. drain and set aside. 
cut bacon into bite size pieces. fry, over medium heat, until crispy. set aside and reserve 2 tbs of the drippings, discarding the rest. 
melt butter in skillet with reserved bacon drippings. whisk in flour. allow to cook a minute or two to cook off flour taste. add spices and beer. bring to a bubble for about 3 minutes. add milk. when it comes to a bubble, add worcestshire, bacon, and cheese. whisk to combine.
add pasta. stir to combine. allow to cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.
pour into casserole dish. sprinkle with chives (optional). serves 4-6.

  

                         

enjoy!!!

bonus: kathy brought another successful pinterest recipe to mandatory friday night. click here to try CAKE BATTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. they were delicious!!!