Cooking Through Magnolia Table In A Year: Week 11

As another unexpected surprise of the week, Becki’s Mac and Cheese was a delicious recipe. With a beautiful blend of cheeses and a crispy panko topping, this side dish is hearty, rich and everything a mac and cheese should be.  We paired this side dish with the Dutch Oven Cabbage and Bacon, pork chop biscuits with peach chutney, and finalized with Chocolate Chip Cookies, which all together felt like a Southerner’s dream meal. This dish also calls for cubes of Velveeta Cheese and while I was hesitant on if they would blend in nicely (because of our thoughts on the Creamy Squash Casserole in week 10), they actually melded beautifully. Likewise, as it does make a large amount, it reheats quite well and comes back to its creamy and crispy texture very easily.

Crowd Average Rating:

Coming in with an average rating of an 8, Becki’s Mac and Cheese will most definitely be served around our table again. For any mac and cheese lover, this recipe is a must try and most certainly would be a wonderful dish for a potluck, Church lunch or dish to take to a friend. From my experience, there is not much that needs to be tweaked for this recipe, as it is easy, straightforward, and wonderfully delicious.

While I previously had never cooked cabbage, this recipe was one that grew on both Charlie and I. Much like a giant Brussel sprout, the cabbage is filled with a variety of textures throughout the tunnel of leaves. Tender, juicy and a fascinating blend of flavors, both Charlie and I believed this recipe actually improved over time as the flavors became more enhanced within the cabbage. Unlike Joanna’s recommendation, following our first meal, we left the cabbage in with the apples, onions, and bacon in the pot when we put it in the fridge and thereafter, the flavor was increasingly enhanced…. So much so that Charlie’s rating went up a whole point the following day! Either way though, the cabbage and onions were delicious, very easy to make and definitely will make their way back to our table in the future.

Crowd Average Rating:

With an average rating of a 6.5, the Dutch Oven Cabbage and Bacon recipe was very good, but might not become my go to side dish. It is an exceptionally easy side dish though which I very much appreciated, and even can be accomplished without a Dutch Oven. As I do not have a Dutch Oven which keeps in the moisture with a heavy lid to self-baste its contents, I found that covering the top of a large oven safe soup/stock pot with tin foil before adding the typical top lid, provides a similar effect. So, even if you do not have a Dutch Oven, this recipe certainly is worth trying… especially when if falls on St. Patrick’s Day!

Our last recipe of the week was Joanna’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. Delicious and chewy, these Chocolate Chip Cookies are wonderful for both an afternoon snack and dessert. The cookie portion (without any chocolate chips) is fabulously sweet and buttery, so pairing it with the richness of the chocolate makes it a wonderful cookie. If you do not have a go to chocolate chip cookie recipe already, you definitely should try out this version, as it just might become your favorite.    

Crowd Average Rating:

Gaining an average rating of a 7.5, this chocolate chip cookie recipe is definitely worth your time. With ratings ranging from a 6 to a 9, it certainly is a crowd pleaser and even can be tailored to your family’s tastes. As my in laws and I were discussing the cookies, some said the cookie portion was so delicious they wished the chocolate wasn’t there, while another mentioned that it would be fabulous to try it with mini chocolate chips. Either way, this recipe is worth trying out and tweaking to find your family’s perfect cookie.

• All-purpose flour
• Fresh thyme
• Butter
• Garlic
• Sweet paprika
• Mustard powder
• Eggs
• Vanilla
• Heavy cream
• Ground pepper
• Parsley

• Kosher salt
• Gruyere cheese
• Nutmeg
• French bread
• Black forest ham
• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Lemon juice
• Tomato Paste
• Cayenne pepper

• Ground white pepper
• Russet potatoes
• Milk
• Green beans
• Vegetable oil
• Onion
• Carrots
• Bay leaf
• Ground beef
• Worcestershire sauce