Guest Post: Rae Gun Ramblings

Hi, I'm Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings. I blog about all things crafty, tasty, pretty and just plain life. I'm an insanely huge fan of young adult fiction (love Potter and Hunger Games), can't stop making cheesecake and homemade pasta, and have recently become obsessed with making stuff for my home. I also run a handmade baby and toddler clothing shop on etsy called Rae Gun. Hopefully you'll stop by my blog and shop and see some of my latest adventures.

Today I want to share with you one of my most requested recipes -taco mac and cheese. It's so easy that I can make it on nights that I don't get home until late, but yummy enough that we have it a couple times a month.

What You'll Need

• 2TBS flour
• 1/4 to 1/2 pound ground beef (depending on how meaty you want it, I've done it both ways)
• 1 C shredded taco cheese (or whatever cheese you have on hand)
• 2-4 TBS taco seasoning (depending on your taste, how strong your seasoning is and how much meat you use
• 1 C milk
• 1/2 C corn 
• 4 oz. short pasta (my favorite are the small elbows but we've used other pasta too), cooked pasta
• 1 avocado
• salt and pepper

What To Do

• In a skillet (or wok like me) brown the ground beef when it's almost done add some of the taco seasoning, I have a big costco bottle and do a couple of big shakes probably 2 TBS
• When meat is cooked remove meat leaving the drippings. You want about 2 TBS grease so if you don't have that much add some butter
• when butter is melted add the flour, stirring to make a roux. Cook it for a couple minutes on medium
• Slowly add milk stirring so it becomes a cream sauce
• If you haven't started cooking the pasta do it now. If you need to cook your corn throw it in the water when the pasta is about 50% done
• Add back in meat and cheese. Taste it, if it needs more flavor add more taco seasoning and/or salt.
• Take 1/4 cup pasta water and stir in.
• Drain pasta and corn and reserve some pasta water. Add pasta to the sauce, if it's to thick add some of the pasta water, if it's too thin just stir and cook a little longer until it thickens.
• Right before serving top with avocado.

This makes 2 hearty adult servings. This can be easily multiplied for more people. I hope you stop by and visit my blog and I'd love to hear if you try it out.