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Tuesday Prize Day

Tuesdays have long been my favorite day of the week, ever since my sister (many years ago) happened to notice that her birthday that year fell on a Tuesday. For weeks before her birthday, she would celebrate Tuesdays with her family and loved ones. Sometimes she would write a note for us, sometimes she had a little treat. The entire family joined the Tuesday celebration bandwagon and Tuesday Prize Day was born. When I went to college, my mom would often make sure my care packages would arrive on Tuesdays or my dad would send me his weekly e-mail on Tuesday. I started celebrating the day with my friends, leaving them notes in their mailboxes or buying them a coffee. My friends started celebrating it themselves and before we knew it, Tuesday Prize Day was sweeping the nation. :) Okay, maybe not sweeping the nation, but it is definitely celebrated at various points throughout the country by various groups of people.

Dave and I, along with Jodi and her beautiful family, still celebrate the joyous Tuesday by having dinner together on that special night of the week. This last Tuesday, Jodi and little Blake came over for the Richert's Mac and Cheese special (recipe found below). Dinner went great, Blake entertained us while eating and Jodi and I were able to catch up on what had been happening during the week. Uncle Dave then decided to have Blake help him wash the car and that is when the fun really began. Blake took his job so seriously, telling me that he was, "going to make the car all shiny." He only got slightly soaked during the process and was enthralled with the bucket of soapy water, especially once the water turned dingy brown. It was so much fun to watch him, and Dave really enjoyed having his help, even when Blake overshot the car with the hose and ended up getting Dave wet instead. It was a great Tuesday Prize Day.

Mac and Cheese Deliciousness:

Ingredients:
One pint grape tomatoes
Large elbow macaroni
One can evaporated milk
1/4 cup egg substitutes
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cut grape tomatoes into halves and place in an 8 x 8 glass cooking dish that has been greased. Salt and pepper tomatoes.
Bake tomatoes for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cook elbow macaroni in large pot of boiling water for about seven minutes. When pasta is done, drain and turn stove top heat down to medium. Return pasta to pot and add evaporated milk, egg substitutes, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes, stirring continuously. Remove from heat, serve it up and sprinkle bread crumbs on the top.

Easy, fast, and oh so delicious. I like to add about 1/4 cup of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese to the recipe to give it a little bit of a bite. Yummy.

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