Blog Posts by Southern Living

Give up the box mix, making Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese from scratch is easier than you think.
It only takes three simple steps to make the rich sauce for this melt-in-your-mouth mainstay.
























Find more from Southern Living
Revamped Mac and Cheese
Pasta Tips and Tidbits
No-Fuss Ravioli

Step 1: Whisk Flour Into Butter
Preheat oven to 400°. Microwave 2 cups milk at HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-low heat; whisk in 2 Tbsp.all-purpose flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute.
Step 1: Whisk flour into butter























Related Article: Make-Ahead Pasta Casseroles

Step 2: Whisk In Warm Milk
Gradually whisk in warm milk and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened.

Step 2: Whisk in warm milk























Related Article: Speedy Pasta Suppers

Step 3: Whisk In Cheese
Whisk in 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, 1 cup shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese, and, if desired, 1/4 tsp. ground red pepper until smooth; stir in 1 (8-oz.) package elbow macaroni, prepared according to package directions. Spoon pasta mixture into a lightly greased 2-qt. baking dish;

Charm your sweeties this Valentine's Day with confections such as our ultra-easy truffles, caramels, and toffee.

Peanut Butter Truffles
This recipe for our ultra-easy Peanut Butter Truffles will surely impress your sweetie this Valentine's Day.























Microwave 1 (12-oz.) package semisweet chocolate morsels, 1/2 cup whipping cream, and 3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter in a medium-size microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth. Stir at 30-second intervals. Let cool 10 minutes. Beat chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, using a small ice cream scoop. Roll in 3/4 cup finely chopped, lightly salted roasted peanuts. (If chocolate mixture becomes too soft to shape, refrigerate until firm.) Place on wax paper-lined baking sheets. Chill 1 hour before serving. Store truffles in airtight container in refrigerator up to 5 days.

Related Article: Wickedly Delicious Chocolate Desserts

Cappuccino-Walnut Toffee
Instant espresso gives this toffee extra flavor. Use this recipe for a delicious, and impressive, Valentine's Day treat.
























Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake 2 cups chopped walnuts at 350° in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and

Use this simple, plan-ahead cooking strategy to save time and money with easy meals from your freezer. All you have to do is buy your favorite meat in bulk, prepare it with these easy tips, and let them freeze.
Stock your freezer with homemade easy freezer meals to save time on meal prep.























Find more from Southern Living
Make Ahead Casseroles
Speedy After-Work Suppers
Kid-Friendly Chicken

Chicken Freezing Tips
Baked, grilled, or stir-fried chicken: Buy several pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Make four or five different recipes of marinades and rubs. Prick chicken several times with a fork to allow marinades and rubs to penetrate the meat. Package chicken according to your family's appetite.

Combine marinade and breast halves in labeled freezer bags. Seal bags, and knead the pieces of meat to circulate the marinade. Lay bags flat with pieces of meat side by side in a flat pan with sides. Marinate meat for desired time in refrigerator. Place pan in freezer; freeze bags flat. Remove frozen bags from pan, and stack in freezer. For kabobs or stir-fry,

These "man cave appetizers" aren't just for the guys. We bet the ladies won't be able to resist sinking their share of chips into these dips!

Loaded Baked Potato Dip
Use crispy waffle fries as dippers for this delicious concoction.























Microwave 1 (2.1-oz.) package fully cooked bacon according to package directions until crisp; drain on paper towels. Cool 10 minutes; crumble. Stir together bacon and 1 (16 oz.) container sour cream, 2 cups (8-oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup sliced chives, and 2 teaspoons hot sauce. Garnish, if desired, with cooked, crumbled bacon; sliced fresh chives; and freshly cracked pepper. Serve with crispy, warm waffle fries. Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 7 days.

Related Article: Game-Day Drinks

Baked Tex-Mex Pimiento Cheese Dip
This warm dip combines undeniably Southern pimiento cheese with a Tex-Mex kick.























Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together in a large bowl 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise; 1/2 (12-oz.) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained and chopped; 1/4 cup chopped green onions; and 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced. Stir in 1 (8-oz.) block extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded; and 1 (8-oz.)

Just in time for Mardi Gras! Learn to fry up your own golden beignets just like they do in the French Quarter. We show you how in just four easy steps.

Make Your Own New Orleans Beignets
Find More Mardi Gras Recipes from Southern Living
Host a Mardi Gras Party
How To Make Jambalaya
Cajun and Creole Favorite Recipes

Step 1: Make the Yeast Mixture
Combine 1 (1/4-oz.) envelope active dry yeast, 1⁄2 cup warm water, and 1 tsp. granulated sugar in bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer; let stand 5 minutes. Add 1 cup evaporated milk, 2 large eggs, lightly beaten, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar.

Step 1: Make the Yeast Mixture
Related Article: Host a Mardi Gras Party

Step 2: Form the Beignet Dough
Microwave 1 cup water until hot (about 115°); stir in 1/4 cup shortening until melted. Add to yeast mixture. Beat at low speed, gradually adding 4 cups flour, until smooth. Gradually add 2 1⁄2 to 3 cups flour, beating until a sticky dough forms. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl; turn to grease top. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.

Step 2: Form the Beignet Dough
Related Video: How

Satisfy hungry fans at your Super Bowl Party in just 30 minutes with a speedy chili, a thick, flavorful dip, and an effortless snack mix.

Super Quick Chili
Super Quick Chili
Time-Saving Tip: Make the most of your time by prepping chili toppings while browning the beef. Prepare the dip and snack mix while the chili simmers.

makes 8 servings hands-on time: 12 min. total time: 27 min.
Slice tops from 16 (1-oz.) hearty round dinner rolls, and then let guests hollow out centers and spoon chili into them.

Ingredients:
2 lb. lean ground beef
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. Creole seasoning
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 (16-oz.) cans diced tomatoes with green pepper and onion
2 (16-oz.) cans small red beans
2 (8-oz.) cans tomato sauce
Toppings: shredded Cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, diced tomatoes

Directions:
Brown beef in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring often, 6 to 8 minutes or until beef crumbles and is no longer pink; drain well. Return beef to Dutch oven; sprinkle with chili powder,

Award-winning Charleston chef Mike Lata proves it's never too chilly for a party, especially with oysters at their peak. We'll tell you everything you need to know-from roasting to recipes-to host your own.

More Seasonal Favorites from Southern Living:

How-To Shuck an Oyster

Creamy Potato and Seafood Chowder Recipes

Satisfying Soups & Stews

Gulf Update: Almost a year after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the obvious question, in the eyes of most consumers, remains: Are Gulf oysters safe to eat? The answer is yes! "Very little of the Gulf oyster grounds ever saw oil. Ninety percent of the closures were precautionary," says Mike Voisin, owner of Motivatit Seafood in Houma, Louisiana, and a member of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. "There have been no signs of oysters, specifically, and seafood, in general, taking up PAHs due to the oil spill." (PAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are naturally found in crude oil and are the most common contaminants

Make meal planning (and clean-up!) easy by preparing one of these tasty one-dish entrées for supper tonight.

More Quick Supper Ideas from Southern Living:

20-Minute Suppers

Pantry Shortcuts from the Test Kitchens

Shortcut Chicken Favorites