BBQ RIBS/CHICKEN, FRIED CABBAGE, MACARONI N CHEESE

Today was the first warm day of 2011. It is 81 degrees here in Mid-Michigan and it is time to break in the grill. Seems like that first beautiful day you are so happy and feeling great. Here in Michigan, winter seems like it never wants to end.

First thing today is to get outside and do some much needed raking. Not only does it get you outside, it is a great way to start an exercise schedule once you are done. It just an experience that is hard to explain. It's like you get so pumped up and you want to do the spring cleaning and the yard work outdoors, grill, get a great big bowl of fruit, and eat healthy.

Today, we are going to grill some BBQ ribs and BBQ chicken. Mmm good! Made some cabbage and bacon and some homemade macaroni and cheese. Don't worry I'm going to share the recipes with you.

With the BBQ ribs and chicken, I like to par boil first. Just throw the two meats in a pan of boiling water. I also add salt, garlic and pepper to my water so it can be boiled into the meat. After the meat has boiled for about 45 minutes, I then take it out and put it on the grill. I tend to meat to make sure it is not burning and I leave it on both side for about 10 minutes each. I then put BBQ sauce onto the ribs and grill for about another 5 minutes on each side. This lets the BBQ sauce cook into the meat.

Macaroni & Cheese

1 small box elbow macaroni
1 small can cream of chicken soup
1 small can cream of mushroom soup
1 8 oz. bag of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 8 oz. bag of shredded colby jack cheese
1/2 cup of milk
1/8 cup of butter
salt n pepper to taste to your liking

I make the elbow macaroni according to box less 2 minutes
I then mix the two soups with the milk and add the salt n pepper, then I add the noodles, cheese and mix around. I then salt and pepper the top, slice the butter and drop on top. Bake at 350 for around 30 minutes.

Options:

I love the flavor of garlic, so there are times when I take garlic toast and crunch it up on top of the macaroni and cheese. Most of the adults love it this way, but the kids don't like the crunch.

Now if you feel like a totally different flavor on it add a small amount of salsa, like about 1/2 cup to 1 cup. Again kids don't like but adults love.


Cabbage and Bacon

1 head cabbage
1 lb. bacon (fried)
1/2 onion
salt n pepper
lawrys
garlic salt

First you slice the bacon in once inch pieces, then fry in pan to the consistency that you like, I prefer mine crunchy. Now take the bacon out and lay on paper towel. Drain all grease except for a little over a tablespoon. Next add a 1/4 cup of butter. Take the cabbage, rinse, and chopped into pieces, I like mine smaller. You then fry the cabbage in the bacon grease and butter. Add lawrys seasoning salt, garlic, salt and pepper. To your tasting again. While frying the cabbage chop up 1/2 onion and add to cabbage when the cabbage starts to get wilted looking. Fry up both stirring often, when cabbage and onions look wilted then add the bacon and let simmer together on low for 5 minutes.