You know it’s getting cooler when you look back at your day of eats and realize that it involves a variety of comfort foods. 
As always, go check out Jenn’s blog to get in on the fun!
Breakfast:
Ah, hello old friend. Glad to have you back.
(That would be peanut butter and banana on whole-wheat toast, for those who don’t know my former breakfast obsession. I’ve also thrown in a glass of milk these days, since the baby evidently needs calcium. Or so my mother keeps telling me.)
Snack:
Have I mentioned how much I love these things? They taste like a Snickers bar. Can’t beat that!
Lunch:
A leftover pulled pork sandwich (recipe to come another day!) on a whole-wheat bun with a salad (not pictured) and pineapple.
Dinner:
My new favorite mac & cheese. See below for this yummy recipe!
Dessert:
I baked chocolate chip cookies for my church community group, and of course, I had to sample them myself. You know, just to make sure they were acceptable to hand out to other people.
(I didn’t actually eat three, though. Only two. So much better, right? 
)
This recipe will also come another day soon. These are my go-to chocolate chip cookies. They rock.
——–
So I took this mac & cheese recipe from Gina’s Skinny Recipes website. But then, being the rebel that I am, I made it slightly less “skinny.”
But overall, I still think it’s healthier than many traditional macaroni and cheese recipes, but just as delicious. I’m pretty sure I could eat this pasta every night for a week and be quite content!
(Kinda) Skinny Baked Macaroni and Cheese
(Modified from this recipe)
Makes 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
- 12 oz. high-fiber elbow macaroni
- 12 oz. bag of fresh broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- half of a small yellow onion, minced
- 2 cups milk (I used 1%, but you could also use skim)
- 1 cup 99% fat free chicken broth
- salt and pepper
- 8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (but you could use other seasoned breadcrumbs, if you have them)
- cooking spray
Directions:
- I recommend prepping all of your ingredients first. Have your broccoli ready, your onion minced, your milk and chicken broth measured out, cheese grated, flour measured, etc.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.
- Prepare your pasta according to the box directions, but undercook it by just a couple of minutes. With a minute left in cooking time, add the fresh broccoli. When finished cooking, drain the mixture and then dump everything into a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet. Over medium-low heat, sauté the onion for about 2 minutes. Then add the flour and cook for another minute, stirring continuously.
- Next, add the milk and chicken broth. Turn the heat up to medium-high heat, and whisk continuously. Eventually, the mixture will start boiling. Keep whisking until the mixture starts to thicken, about another 5 minutes after it starts boiling. Add salt and pepper to taste (don’t be stingy … you want the flavor!).
- Remove the sauce from the heat and add the cheddar cheese. Whisk the mixture until nice and smooth. Then add the cheese sauce to the pasta and mix together.
- Pour the mixture into the baking pan. Top the mixture with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, then broil for another minute or so.
- Enjoy!
My Kraft blue box-loving husband surprisingly loved this recipe.
I thought for sure he’d turn his nose up at my healthier twist. But hooray, it was “husband approved!” 
——–
And finally, I need to announce the winner of the SendOut Cards Giveaway!
Random Sequence Generator
Here is your sequence:
6
Winner:
Angie N November 12, 2012 (Edit)
“I love this website! Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on your pregnancy!”
Congratulations, Angie! Please email me (notsodomesticated@yahoo.com) so I can tell you how to claim your prize!
Question for ya …
Best thing you’ve eaten this week?
Tell me some of your favorite comfort foods!
Favorite kind of cookie?
mmm i’m usually not a big fan of homemade mac and cheese.. Yah i know its so weird… but i only like easy mac. This one looks delicious though!
Danielle @ Itsaharleyyylife recently posted..WIAW: Friends Edition
My husband usually only likes easy mac, too!
But he liked this one!
oh my goodness.. your dinner!! Girl, it looks beyond AMAZING! Like I wanna fly to your home RIGHT THIS SECOND and eat all the leftovers, oh & have you bake me some of those cookies
Jessie recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday
I made chocolate chip cookies yesterday as well Myas pre school! My go-to cookies were pillsbury blue wrapper choco chip cookies lol I had no desire to pull out the kitchenaide mixer but yet im in to mood to bake Christmas cookies!! I can wait to try your recipe! Hope your feeling well!! Have a great week.
That mac and cheese looks delish! My last mac and cheese experiment (vegan) was NOT husband-approved, but he was a good sport ate it anyway:)
Ooh, that mac + cheese looks great! And my favorite thing i’ve eaten this week? i made some chocolate choco-chip muffins yesterday that are soo good. last night my husband warmed one up, then topped it with caramel + vanilla ice cream + chocolate sauce. HOLY DECADENCE! and soooo delicious!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Muffins
Wow, your husband sounds like my kind of guy! That sounds so good!
That mac and cheese looks so good! Can’t remember the last time I had any. I love adding broccoli to mine, too!
Angela @ Health’s Angel recently posted..Cube Life = Healthy Life?
You always make the best pasta dishes!
I too always have to sample my goodies before I pass them out..! Gotta bake sure they are good enough to share!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life recently posted..WIAW: Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast
oh gosh Ive been craving cheese like no ones business!! My father in law mentioned making baked mac and cheese for our xmas party this year and it sent off my cheesy alarms lol
Kat recently posted..A few facts.
Oh comfort food… I love it. Some of my favorites would be meatloaf, pretty much any kind of pasta, my mom’s version of shepherd’s pie, and chicken pot pie! And favorite type of cookie is always a tough question for me. A good ol’ fashioned chocolate chip cookie, peanut butter cookie, and snicker doodle are among my top favorites!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..WIAW #60: Every Two Hours
Yum – mac and cheese is comfort food at its finest! I love the healthy twist. I’ve been trying to sneak veggies in to more meals lately. Your pulled pork looks delicious too!
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog recently posted..WIAW #18: Pre-Thanksgiving Treats
A few thoughts…
1) I love how your banana is so perfectly laid out on your toast.
2) I love the cookie dough balance bars…I will have to try this flavor
3) I might have to make that recipe for dinner tonight. I will let you know how it goes.
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..Guess who…
Those caramel nut blast protein bars were the first ones that I ever tried as a kid! Definitely a high standard to live up to
Favorite comfort food: Warm breakfast porridge.
Favorite cookie: Snickerdoodles. Or Mexican Wedding Cookies.
Eating 4 Balance recently posted..WIAW + Fun Foods Survey
This mac and cheese recipe is for sure happening!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Two Classic Movie Reviews and Insanity Update
Pingback: Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ugh! That mac and cheese looks delish! I have been feeling super under the weather lately I’m pretty sure I have mono) so I have had absolutely zero appetite. I’ve seriously survived on Diet Ginger Ale and whole wheat saltines for the past week
I’m glad to see your old tried and true breakfast is back!
Amber with Slim Pickin’s Kitchen recently posted..Let’s Give Thanks…For Sassy Hour
So so sorry to hear you haven’t been feeling well.
I hope you’re feeling 100% again very soon!