Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We have wonderful friends.  I have always known this fact, but over the past two weeks it has been reinforced by the generosity and thoughtfulness of some truly wonderful people.  One of our friends organized a "food chain" and set up a schedule for people to bring us supper every night since we got home from the hospital with baby Michael (who is fricking adorable, by the way!)

It has been a godsend to have meals prepared for us every night - I haven't needed to buy groceries, make meal plans, or stand in the kitchen and try to make supper in between feedings and diaper changes and baby snuggles.  The kids are convinced that I should have more babies just so we can be spoiled like this all over again!

Our friend Glenna wrapped up the food chain last night with a delicious meal of Fiesta Mac & Cheese, and she also made some of her yummy homemade granola that makes me swoon.  Here are the recipes:

FIESTA MAC & CHEESE
2 heaping cups of macaroni, cooked until tender but firm
2 tbsp. butter
1 onion, chopped
1/3 c. flour
3 c. milk
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 3/4 c. cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 c. salsa
1/2 c. frozen corn
dash of hot sauce
1/4 lb. ground beef (browned and seasoned with taco seasoning)
tortilla chips

Melt butter over medium heat.  Cook onion for about 5 minutes or until softened.  Add flour and cook for 1 minute, then gradually whisk in milk.  Continue stirring for about 8 minutes or until sauce has thickened.  Add mustard, salt, pepper, and cheese.  Stir until melted, and then add in salsa, corn, hot sauce, beef, and stir in macaroni.  Spread in a baking dish and top with crushed tortilla chips.  Bake at 350F for 30 minutes.

MOSTLY OATS GRANOLA (from Simply in Season)
6 c. rolled oats
1 c. coconut
1 c. raw wheat germ
3/4 c. almonds
1/2 c. raw sunflower seeds
1/2 c. sesame seeds

Combine in a roasting pan.

1/2 c. honey
1/3 c. olive oil
1/3 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together and pour over oat mixture. Stir well. Bake at 275F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Watch carefully so it doesn’t burn.

Add 1 c. dried fruit (mango and banana chips are my favourite, but you can use raisins, cranberries, apricots, prunes, etc.) and store in airtight containers.

I don't have pictures for these recipes, but trust me, they are delicious!

A heartfelt thank you to all the people who have welcomed Michael into the world with their kind words, gifts, meals, support, and love.  We are truly blessed!