Each month here at Semper Pot Pie, we hold a monthly FB live video. In that video we hold a drawing. The winner of that drawing gets to plan a menu item for the following month. Another perk of winning the monthly drawing is their service member gets to be featured in our monthly spotlight!
As we shine the spotlight this month, we celebrate the journey of United States Marine Aaron Smith. A remarkable young man whose dedication to service and love for his family define his character.
Born on June 14th, 1995, Aaron came into this world with a spirit of determination and a heart full of love. As the middle child among three siblings, he shared a special bond with his older sister and younger brother, choosing to follow in the footsteps of the latter. Whom is now a Marine veteran serving as a police officer in North Carolina.
Aaron’s journey into the Marine Corps began alongside his brother, embarking on the rigorous path of boot camp and MCT school together. With an MOS in the intelligence program, Aaron demonstrated not only physical prowess but also a sharp intellect, fitting for the challenges that lay ahead.
From a young age, Aaron’s passion for sports was evident. Despite his size, he fearlessly tackled the football field, displaying resilience and determination throughout his four years on the varsity team. His prowess extended to the wrestling mat, where he excelled and proudly represented his school at CIF finals for four consecutive years.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Aaron’s commitment to his community shone brightly. After high school, he embraced the role of a wrestling coach, imparting his knowledge and passion to the next generation of athletes. His love for the outdoors and dedication to working with youth illuminated his path, guiding him towards a life of service and leadership.
The decision to join the Marine Corps was a pivotal moment, one that both filled his mother with pride and left her with a sense of loss. With her middle son safely employed by the school district, she only had to worry about her youngest son in active duty military service. Fate however, had another plan. At a poolee function his younger brother was participating in, Aaron started talking to the recruiter. He was hooked! “Right there and then I lost both of my boys to the Marine Corps.” Christiana mused. Yet, as she watched her sons march towards their calling, she knew their bond and dedication would carry them through any challenge.
After initially being stationed in Hawaii, Aaron re-enlisted and is now in Okinawa, Japan. Aaron continues to serve with honor and dedication. Though distance separates him from his mother, the pride she feels for him transcends any physical barrier. His commitment to his career and the values instilled in him by the Marine Corps assures her that he is exactly where he is meant to be.
Christiana admitted that she isn’t always the best cook. “Aarons favorite food is anything mom doesn’t make off of Pinterest! I messed up so many things!” However, he does love snickerdoodles. We didn’t have a great recipe for snickerdoodles, but we did find a great Snickerdoodle Cookie Bar Recipe from Betty Crocker that got rave reviews.
The meal that Christiana requested was Mac and Cheese. Lucky for her, she does not need Pinterest this time! Mac and Cheese happens to be one of our specialties! This recipe was crafted over 20 years ago and is the most requested recipe from friends and family.
Our recipe starts with a basic roux. (Stay tuned for our series of basic cooking skills where we will cover what a roux is, why it is important and most importantly, how to make it.) We make a thin white sauce from that roux with a mix of buttermilk and milk and we also put a little bit of cream cheese. Season it with garlic powder and stone ground mustard…and then…MAGIC!
Magic in the form of cheese! I prefer to use Gouda, jack, cheddar, fontina, a blend…sometimes even goat cheese! Okinawa is not exactly known for its cheese. Cheddar and jack are easily accessible though and we mostly use that for our Mac and cheese here to keep the cost from being prohibitive.
Cooked elbow noodles are mixed into the cheese sauce with crispy bits of bacon. Baking the Mac and cheese seems like an unnecessary second step that any busy mother will tell you…no one has time for.
Crunchy toasted breadcrumbs sprinkled on top solves that problem though! Mixing seasoned breadcrumbs with hot bacon grease and toasting them slightly gives the satisfying crunch of the oven baked version, but leaves the pasta creamy and smooth.
Cream cheese in the mix helps the texture when it is reheated. Even reheated in the microwave, this recipe holds well and many argue tastes better the next day.
Soon we will do an entire blog post with pictures and in depth instructions and video. But for now, the old school recipe is below.
Irresistible Bacon Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry macaroni noodles
- 6 strips bacon chopped (optional)
- 1 cup dry breadcrumbs Italian Seasoned
- 2 tbs flour
- 2 tbs butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pint buttermilk
- 1 pint whole milk
- 1 tsp stone ground mustard
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic powder
- 4 Oz cream cheese
- 1 – 1 1/2 pound assorted cheeses cheddar, gouda, fontina, jack, etc. The bigger variety the better, shredded
Instructions
- Add the dry macaroni to salted boiling water. Stir to prevent sticking. Cook according to the directions on package.
- Fry the bacon in a small pan. When brown and crispy, remove pan from heat. Remove bacon from pan leaving all fat. Add breadcrumbs to the hot fat and allow it to slightly cook the breadcrumbs. Set aside.
- If using store bought breadcrumbs, I like to buy the Italian seasoned. If making homemade breadcrumbs, add 1/2 tsp of Italian Seasoning and 1/4 tsp of salt.
- In a large saucepan, heat the butter and garlic on medium heat. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until garlic is fragrant.
- Add the flour and whisk. Continue to cook and occasionally whisk until the flour is cooked. It will have a nutty or popcorn type smell when ready.
- Slowly add small amounts of buttermilk and whisk between each addition. Continue with the whole milk when the buttermilk is gone. After all milks are smoothly added in, add mustard and cream cheese. Simmer, stirring occasionally until the cream cheese is melted. The sauce should be on the thin side.
- Remove from heat. Add in all the cheese and stir to melt the cheese.
- When the pasta is cooked, strain it and mix the pasta and cheese sauce together. If you cooked bacon add it into the macaroni.
- Once the macaroni and cheese is ladeled into each bowl, top with toasted breadcrumbs and serve.
As we honor Aaron this month, let us reflect on his journey, his sacrifices, and his unwavering commitment to duty. May his story inspire us all to embrace the call of service and cherish the bonds of family that anchor us through life’s challenges. Semper Fi, Aaron, we hope you enjoyed the Mac and Cheese and especially the Snickerdoodles!
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