What's More 1950s Than Tuna Casserole?

I'd imagine that most people have not only eaten, but have also cooked, tuna casserole. It probably has a million variations, most starting with egg noodles and cans of tuna and cream of chicken soup. Over the years, I developed a distinct distaste for cream of chicken condensed soup; it's too salty and it... tastes fake. Because my Tommy Lee also dislikes it, and I wanted to have tuna casserole once in a while, I developed this way of making it. It completely eliminates the cream of chicken soup, uses albacore tuna instead of regular, and I like to add jalapenos to it, too!

By making your own sauce - which is surprisingly simple, TBH - it put YOU in control of the salt and preservative content of your casserole, something that the test kitchens of 1950s wrested away from us housewives long ago. It's time to take it back.

Watch me make this childhood favorite with a new twist here:

And download the recipe card to print by CLICKING HERE.

Text Recipe:
Tuna (Melt) Casserole
2 or 3 cans of tuna
1 pkg egg noodles
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
3 tbls chicken boullion
1 tbls granulated onion
3 cups water
1/4 cup Half & Half
1 cup shredded cheese
Jalepenos (diced - optional)

For topping:
Crushed crackers
1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare egg noodles per package directions.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter or margarine and add flour to make a roux. Remove from heat and mix in chicken boullion and granulated onion. Add water, return to heat, and whisk to combine until flour/butter mixture is fully incorporated into the water. Add Half & Half and bring to boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat and add cheese, stirring to incorporate.

In a large baking dish, combine drained tuna, pasta, and sauce. Stir to distribute tuna and sauce evenly throughout pasta. Level the pasta, then top with crushed crackers and cheese, spreading to cover completely.

Bake in 375-degree oven for 20 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 6 to 8 servings.



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Weekend Review: theBalm Schwing Eyeliner & Meet Matt(e) Hughes Lipstick

Over Mardi Gras weekend, theBalm had a sale, so I thought I would try out some of their products. I'd had some eyeshadow, lipstick, and eyeliner in my Amazon shopping cart for a while, so the sale at theBalm's web site made the purchase irresistible. I was going to get the same things from the sale, but the lipstick I wanted ("Committed") was sold out, as was the eyeshadow I wanted, but I did get their Schwing Eye Liner and Meet Matt(e) Hughes lipstick in a similar color, "Honest."

These purchases were delivered yesterday, so I thought I would give them a go this morning and see what I thought of them. My criteria for a good eye liner is as follows:

1. The applicator needs to be able to make a wing point that could draw blood
2. The liner itself needs to be thin enough to create said wing, but thick enough that it doesn't run into my eyes before it dries
3. Smooth to apply; no clumps
4. Dries quickly
5. Doesn't make my eye lids itch (I have this problem with a lot of liners) or swell up
6. Lasts all day

My criteria for a great lipstick are these:

1. Color looks great with my skin tone and makeup style
2. Lasts for at least a few hours
3. Doesn't get clumpy or make my lips dry or cracked

On the Schwing eye liner: I'm impressed. The applicator is small and sharp and lifts out a goodly amount of liner liquid, enough to make the whole wing and fill it in in one dip, which I like. It goes on smooth and does seem to dry quickly, as I didn't have to keep my lids low for too long while it dried. I've been wearing this application for about three hours now and I don't have any itchiness or swelling, which is a problem I have had in the past with some brands of eye liner.

As you can see, the Schwing eye liner delivered on making a sharp wing. My overall rating? A+! I love it so far! I will update if anything changes by the end of the day or after using it for a week, but the outlook on this one is BRIGHT!

On the Meet Matt(e) Hughes lip stick, the first impression I got from it was the scent of it. I had never really given a lot of thought to how a lipstick smelled, but this was really nice. It has the scent of Peppermint Patties with a strong chocolate overtone to a minty scent. My second impression of it was the color, which seemed really orange. I was a little afraid of how bright orange the color was, but I only applied it to my upper lip and then pursed to get it on my lower lip. After a soft blot with a tissue, I actually really liked the color, too.

I'm not usually one for a lipstick that is so matte as this one is, but I knew what was coming based on the name of the product. I actually like it a lot with my skin tone and coloring, and it seems like it will be good for understated looks. Plus, I've been wearing it for a few hours now, and it is still on, just like when I put it on, and I've eaten some crackers and cheese in the meantime. Makes me a happy glamper.

Overall rating on the Meet Matt(e) Hughes lipstick? A+! I'll definitely be buying the "Committed" color from Amazon next time I place an order.

St. Paddy's Day Pinup Hair Flowers!

I said I would try to post when I put new items in my Etsy shop, and so I am! There's still plenty of time to get your Irish themed hair flowers in time for your festivities, so don't wait! 

Click Here, Here, or Here to buy now!

It's Still Winter? How About Some Soup? Mid-Century Kitchen Episode 9 - Tortellini Soup!

Nothing warms up your bones in the winter like a big, steaming bowl of tasty soup... so, despite the fact that it is now March and we ought to be thinking about spring time, we here in Idaho still have 2 feet of snow on the level and it's supposed to snow some more every day this week. With that in mind, I give you one of my favorite soup recipes: Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup!

With complex flavors and easy directions, this soup will likely become a favorite in your house, too! I can whip this up in about half an hour including prep time and it really hits the proverbial spot, I'll tell you what.

Watch me make it here:

Download the printable recipe card by CLICKING HERE.

Here's the text recipe:

ITALIAN TORTELLINI SOUP
1 lb Italian sausage
2 cups carrots (chopped)
2 cups apple cider (not juice)
4 cups water
1 pkg fresh/frozen tortellini (any style)
2 cans tomato sauce
2 tbls onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried basil
1 tbls dried oregano
2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp crushed fennel seeds
1/4 cup fresh Parmesan (optional)

Brown sausage in the bottom of your soup pot. Deglaze pot with apple cider. Add tomato sauce, carrots, and water. Add all spices. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer. Cook for 20 minutes or until carrots are fork tender. Add tortellini. Cook 5 minutes more or until tortellini floats to the top.

Serve hot and topped with fresh Parmesan cheese if you desire.

Serves 6 to 8. This soup is also fantastic reheated the next day!
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Lemon Loaf in the Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite, Episode 8!

Whenever I go shopping, I stop at Starbuck's and get myself a little treat, and, if they have it, I try to get their lemon loaf. But what if you get a lemon loaf craving at home and don't want to go to Starbucks? This recipe is an almost dead-on copy of the coffee chain's signature lemon loaf, but homemade! It's light, fluffy, lemony, and the thick glaze on top gives it just the perfect amount of sweetness!

This recipe is a family favorite - it almost never lasts the night after dinner - so it's perfect to take to potlucks or other gatherings to make sure you come back with an empty plate and no leftovers... not that you'd mind with as tasty as this treat is!

You can download the PDF recipe card HERE.

And watch me make this lemon loaf at my YouTube channel (make sure to subscribe or support me on Patreon!)

Coffee House Copy Cat Lemon Loaf
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
Zest of one lemon
1 tsp lemon extract
yellow coloring as needed

Cream together sugar, eggs, sour cream, and oil. Mix in lemon juice, zest, extract, and coloring. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Pour into prepared loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Allow to cool in pan. Remove from pan and top with lemon glaze.

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Spring Holidays Hair Flowers - Now in the Molly Starlite Store!

I'm ready for spring; I don't care that there is still tons of snow on the ground here. Because I am so ready for spring, I have already started uploading my newest products to my Etsy shop: Spring-themed hair accessories! Easter, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, general spring pastels... over the next day or so I will be adding tons of new stock to my shop, so keep checking back. The first product available are these GORGEOUS hydrangea bunches in pale pastels colors of pink, yellow, and blue. I also made coordinating, detachable nests that clip to the flowers with alligator clips, so these hair flowers are perfect for Easter or any time, just by removing the nests!


I have tons of new products coming in the next day or so, so keep checking back, and I will try to remember to post here as I put them up for sale!

Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!

Episode Seven: Cheesecake Brownies!

Yesterday was, of course, Valentine's Day, and my valentine is a choco-holic! How to satisfy his sweet tooth but still make something unusual? How about Berry Swirl Cheesecake Brownies?! In my latest episode of the Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite, I show you how to make this dessert that satisfies any chocolate lover but is not too sweet at the same time! The chocolate ends up soft and gooey and the cheesecake is just tart enough from the cream cheese. And, best of all, this dessert goes together quickly - I was done in about 20 minutes and then one hour to bake - which makes it delightful to put in the oven for later while you're getting ready for your Valentine!








Watch me make one here:

Here is the recipe (download a PDF here):
INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
12 tablespoons butter (salted)
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

For Cheesecake Batter
8 oz (1 box) cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt.

Berry syrup

DIRECTIONS
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease an 8" by 8" square baking dish. Set aside
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for brownie batter and mix thoroughly, until all butter pieces are incorporated. Pour into baking dish and spread batter to edges. Set aside.
Rinse out bowl (or get a new one) and combine all ingredients for  cheesecake batter. Beat until all clumps are worked out of the cream cheese. Pour cheesecake batter on top of brownie batter and gently smooth to edges.
Drizzle berry syrup on top of cheesecake and swirl through with toothpick, making sure not to get down into the brownie layer.
Put in oven and bake for 1 hour or until edges of cheesecake layer are a soft, golden brown.
Allow to cool completely before cutting. Makes 9 servings.

Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite - Episode 6: How to Make Dress Straps the EASY Way!

Top strap is the underside; bottom
strap is the top side.

If you remember my how-to sew a swing dress post from last summer, you'll remember that I struggled to make straps that looked neat and finished and weren't interminably frustrating to make. After much trial and error, I finally found this method that doesn't involve sewing and turning fabric, isn't frustrating at all, and takes only minutes to make each strap.

That's right: using nothing more than a hot iron, an old bath towel, and a can of spray starch, you can turn a 4-inch wide by 18-inch long piece of cotton into a sturdy strap for dresses and tops in just a few minutes. The only sewing involved is a simple seam down the edge to secure it, but these things come out looking neat and clean and professional in literally just minutes.

Watch me make one here (my 5-year old was taping this, just to explain the videography on this one):

Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!
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Viva Las Vegas Is Coming!

My pinup life really started with Viva Las Vegas... I entered their pinup contest last year and needed a pinup name to enter, and Molly Starlite was born! Someday, I hope to actually make it to Viva, and I hope to do so as a contestant in their pinup contest... big changes in my life this year (that are continuing this year) prevented it from even being a consideration this time around, but maybe next year or the year after. Fingers crossed!

I daydream a lot about getting to go to Viva or Tiki Oasis; all the big conventions are so far from me, though, and, what with running our own businesses, it's harder than you might imagine to get away for that length of time and keep the budgets in line. Over the last 5 years, my Tommy Lee and I have been saving to drill a deep water well here on our property. We moved out here and there was nothing: no house, no electricity, no plumbing, no utilities, and no water. Over the last five years, we cleared a spot for the house, put in a house, dug a septic and drain field, put in electrical, put in Internet, put in phone access, built a shop and an office, and remodeled the entire house to be a midcentury oasis. We had a five-year plan when we started and we're at the beginning of Year Five; all that's left to do is get water into the house and build a snow roof over the house. Last fall, we got the hole in the ground for our water well developed; this spring, we'll be running the pipes to the house. I'm so excited! We're almost done!

And after we are done, I will start saving a little bit every month to take my first vacation to one of these retro conventions - haven't decided which one yet - and I CANNOT WAIT!

Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!

Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite: Episode 5 - Birthday Cake Exfoliating Scrub!

As a teenager - or pretty much all through my life - I was never prone to acne or anything; I was really lucky. That is, until I quit smoking several years ago. Then, I got really bad cystic acne that took forever to heal. I needed to find something to exfoliate and moisturize my skin that wouldn't break me out worse.

After a lot of trial and error, I finally hit on this recipe while messing around in the kitchen one night:
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons solidified coconut oil
Vanilla extract

The sugar and vanilla work together to make this totally natural and edible paste taste like birthday cake, and the sugar works as a mild exfoliant to get rid of dead skin cells and dirt while the coconut oil is soothing and moisturizing! And as a lip scrub, this tasty concoction works wonders. I just saved some glass jars from my eye cream and fill them with this scrub. You can put the jars in your purse to exfoliate and scrub your lips anywhere, or keep it at your vanity for a quick pick-me-up for your face.

Watch me make it here:

Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite - Episode 4: Empty Bowl Potato Salad!

I, probably like a lot of people, didn't like potato salad when I was a kid. In fact, I don't think I willingly ate any potato salad even through most of my young adulthood. And then one day, I was a potential drummer's house for him to try out for my band and his wife served us all bowls of potato salad. Not wanting to be rude, I ate some. And I was shocked that I actually liked it. It wasn't weird in any way. It tasted like potatoes and bacon and there wasn't any weird crunchy things in it, but it had the taste of onions and pickles without the crunch of it.

But the audition didn't go well and I lost contact with that drummer and his wife and never got the recipe. So, I set out to make my own version, and this is the result! This potato salad is a crowd favorite to every place I have ever taken it to; I have never had to bring leftovers home when I bring this dish to picnics, potlucks, BBQs, etc. The secret is the inclusion of pickle juice and lemon zest and juice, which adds the traditional pickle flavor but kicks it up a freshness notch or two with the acidity of the lemon.

Alternate versions of this that I have made before when I have it on hand include adding bacon, but it really is delicious exactly like this. Watch me make it here:

Here's a printable recipe card. (Download & print PDF file HERE)

Empty Bowl Potato Salad
6 eggs (hard boiled)
5 medium potatoes (boiled)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
Zest & juice of one lemon
2 tbs pickle juice
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbs chicken bouillon
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp black pepper

In a large pot, cover potatoes and eggs with water and bring to boil. After 7 minutes of boiling, remove eggs from water and set aside to cool. Continue boiling potatoes for another 10 minutes or until fork tender in the middles. Remove potatoes from hot water and allow to cool.

In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon zest & juice, and pickle juice and whisk until combined. Add in spices and seasonings and whisk until incorporated.

Peel and dice potatoes and put in large mixing bowl. Peel & rinse eggs and set aside.

Add dressing to bowl of potatoes, gently folding to combine until all potato pieces are coated.

Slice eggs on egg slicer and add 4 of the eggs to the bowl of potatoes. Gently fold to incorporate.

Transfer potato salad to serving bowl. Top with remaining two eggs, arranged in a pretty pattern for serving.

Serves 6 to 10.

Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!

Jenny January - Day 7 (last day): Ice Blue Harlequin Print Dress

For the last day of Miss Amy May's Jenny January, I chose to wear the last Jenny dress I bought from Pinup Girl Clothing: the ice blue harlequin print! I am a harlequin diamond nut. I love this motif, so much, and so, outside of the Halloween harlequin (which I wasn't fond of the orange in it) and the purple harlequin print (which I didn't like the green and purple combo that doesn't look good on my skin tone), I have at last one item in every colorway. This dress... I didn't think I was going to be able to afford it, but my Tommy Lee surprised me with it as a Christmas present, and I am so glad that he did because it is really versatile, and the fit is amazing, in my opinion.

And that does it for another year of Jenny January posts. I am ready for a wiggle skirt tomorrow, though, and I'll be filming another episode of the Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite. What should I cook? I'm thinking potato salad.

Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!

Jenny January - Day 6: Cherry Border Print Dress

My second favorite Jenny dress that I own is this cherry border print dress that I wore for Miss Amy May's Jenny January Day 6. I ADORE this print because it is unusual compared to traditional all-over cherry prints... plus, this one is a dress that is actually three sizes too big for me that I tailored to fit me. That means that the waistline of the dress makes it all the way to my navel and my natural waist, accommodating my freakishly long waist better than any other dress I own.

I wore this dress to walk in the Women's March on Washington Sister March in Sandpoint, Idaho this morning/afternoon. It was a near-blizzard out there today, and, while the weather ruined my wet set, it couldn't stop our spirit and determination and solidarity... and my dress kept me warm while we were out there for about 2 and half hours with about 800 other like-minded souls.

Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!

Jenny January - Day Five: Black/Teal Harlequin Jenny Dress!

This is, bar none, my favorite Jenny dress, mostly because of the print and color scheme. I wore this dress for Day Five of Miss Amy May's Jenny January, where you wear a different Jenny dress or skirt every day for seven days. This was the first Jenny dress I bought from Pinup Girl Clothing and the start of a bit of an obsession: I love the cut and style of this dress as well as the whole midcentury harlequin motif. So much heart-eyes.







Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!

Jenny January, Day 4: Jenny Skirt in Black!

A plain black swing skirt is a must-have staple for any pinup wardrobe. It's simple, elegant, and pairs with virtually any top or blouse by virtue of its neutrality. The black Jenny skirt from Pinup Girl Clothing that I chose to wear for Day Four of Miss Amy May's Jenny January is a high quality choice for putting such a work horse in your closet. I found mine to be rather long when I got it - and I am pretty tall at just a hair under six feet - so I have hemmed mine 2 inches. While you'll want to keep a lint roller on hand - as you would with any black or dark colored apparel - the black Jenny skirt is such a versatile piece that I can't see how anyone wouldn't recommend it. For my Day Four outfit, I paired my black Jenny skirt with the Carole top in Villain's print (with art by Stephanie Buscema) and the perfect pinup shrug in black, all from PUG.

Like what you see here? Want to help me make more awesome stuff? Support me on Patreon.com and get instant rewards! You could get a custom song, free copies of my books, free jewelry, a say in my projects, and so much more! Thank you for your patronage!

Jenny January - Day 3: White Harlequin Jenny!

Day three of Miss Amy May's Jenny January, and I chose to wear the Jenny dress in white harlequin. I love the harlequin diamond motif; it's so retro and 1950s kitsch... it instantly calls to mind that time period, and this print adds to that with its color scheme on a white background. The moment I saw it, I thought of this Sears ad:

And it doesn't get any more retro, 1950s than that!

Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite - Episode 3: 1950s Coffee Cake!

When I was kid, my mom used to make this delicious coffee cake that would be waiting, warm, when I got off the school bus. I loved how the topping was crunchy and the cake was crumbly with gooey veins of sweetness running through it.

I don't get many opportunities to make a coffee cake - being as Pinochle and Bridge have fallen out of style, as it were - but I still like to make this authentic 1950s coffee cake recipe every once in a while. Call it nostalgia, but there really isn't any treat tastier than a real midcentury coffee cake.

Watch me make it in episode three of my Mid-century Kitchen series on YouTube, and be sure to subscribe to my channel if you like what you see!

You can also support my video efforts by becoming my patron on Patreon.com, a web site that connects makers and patrons. I have tons of awesome rewards already available with more coming soon!

Here is the 1950s Coffee Cake Recipe (Download PDF - Click Here)
COFFEE CAKE
Topping:
2/3 cups sugar
3/4 cups flour
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tbs cinnamon
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Cake
3/4 cup butter or shortening
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tsps baking powder
2 tsps vanilla
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
1 1/4 cups milk
3 3/4 cups flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan or two 9" round cake pans.

Make the topping by whisking together the sugar, salt, flour, and cinnamon. Add the melted butter, stirring until well combined. Set the topping aside.

Make the filling by mixing together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Set it aside.

To make the cake: In a large bowl, beat together shortening, salt, sugars, baking powder, and vanilla until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream and milk till well combined. Add the flour to the butter mixture alternately with the milk/sour cream mixture, beating gently to combine.

Pour half the batter into the prepared pans, spreading all the way to the edges. If you're using two 9" round pans, spread 1 1/3 cups batter in each pan. Sprinkle the filling evenly atop the batter. Gently spread the remaining batter atop the filling. Sprinkle the topping over the batter in the pan.

Bake 55 minutes. When pressed gently in the middle, the cake should spring back. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.

Jenny January Day Two: Pink Mary Blair Parasols!

Day Two of Miss Amy May's Jenny January is the first Pinup Girl Clothing skirt I ever stalked on their "coming soon" page: the Mary Blair pink parasols print Jenny skirt! Literally, as soon as I saw this skirt, I knew I had to have it. I literally watched the "coming soon" page for months, waiting for it to be released. The moment I got the "your products are in stock" email, I rushed to the site and bought the skirt - as well as the cardigan I am wearing in the picture, which matches perfectly, BTW - ten minutes from receiving the in-stock email!

This is the first-run version, so it doesn't have pockets, but I love it so much. I wear this skirt all the time, even though the pink is a tough color to match. It really looks best with a white top and this pink cardigan, which, upon looking for it to link it for you all, appears to have been discontinued. :(

In this picture, I have accessorized my outfit with chrome Mary Janes from Zappos, vintage starburst jewelry, and a two-tone pink pinup hair flower from my Valentine's Day collection.

Jenny January - Day One: Red Harlequin

Jenny January is an event started by Miss Amy May in which pinup ladies dress in a different Pinup Girl Clothing Jenny dress or skirt every day for a week. It's a lot of fun, and you sometimes get to match outfits with other pinup ladies. It's a huge event on Instagram, and last year, I collaborated with over a dozen pinup ladies to match outfits for all seven days.

This year, I have been too busy to schedule any collaborations on purpose, but I am still participating. For Day One of Jenny January, I am wearing one of my favorite Jenny dresses: the chocolate harlequin Jenny dress! I love this dress because the color scheme looks great with my coloring, and it's a bigger size that I tailored to fit me, so the bodice fits all the way to my bellybutton on my freakishly long waist. It's eye-catching and a perfect precursor to Valentine's Day next month.

The Mid-Century Kitchen: The Cocktail

Nothing is more important to the mid-century meal time than the quintessential cocktail. Over the years, I've tried a lot of liquors; not many have suited my tastes, and fewer mixed drinks really call my name. So, I devised my own (you wouldn't really expect anything less from me, would you?). I call this drink "Cheerio's Cherry" because it tastes like cherry punch and my Grandpa called me Cheerio (because I had as much energy as the Cheerio Kid).

Watch me make a Cheerio's Cherry in the Mid Century Kitchen:

Download the recipe card:

As a PDF: CLICK HERE.

The Mid-Century Kitchen with Molly Starlite: Cooking with SPAM?!?!

One of my all-time favorite dishes growing up was this rigatoni pasta and Spam concoction my mother made every other Sunday afternoon. It's creamy, the Spam adds salt, and the BBQ chips on top add the perfect crunch.

Though a lot of people turn their noses up at Spam, it really is the key component to this tasty dish of comfort food. This casserole takes less than half an hour to put together, 20 minutes to bake, and is also GREAT to take to potlucks! (You'll come back with just an empty pan, I promise!)

No, it's not gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, lactose free, low carb, or low calorie, but it is darned delicious!

Here's the recipe in text; a printable recipe card is below, in both JPG and PDF format, and you can follow along with my video (below), too!

INGREDIENTS
1 can of Spam (any flavor - I like Hickory Smoke)
1 box of rigatoni noodles
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup crushed BBQ potato chips
Salt & Pepper to taste
Paprika for color (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Pre-heat oven to 375-degrees.
Prepare pasta according to box directions.
Dice Spam into small cubes and put in foil-lined baking pan (no sense in making more work for yourself)
Melt butter in saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add flour to butter to make a paste.
Add milk to roux (your flour/butter mixture)
Whisk constantly until sauce reaches a medium-thick consistency. Add salt & pepper to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
Drain pasta (do not rinse) and add to baking pan. Stir in white sauce and mix until fully incorporated.
Top with a layer of cheddar cheese, a layer of crushed chips, and a second layer of cheese. Top with a sprinkle of paprika, if desired.
Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Serves 4-8 people for a main dinner meal; many more at a potluck.

Click to view larger or print.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF OF RECIPE CARD.