Make Your Own: Healthier Mac N Cheese

 

I made my normal Mac 'N Cheese recipe this weekend and added 1/2 cauliflower (frozen), half noodles, and a bunch of peas.

It was delicious--all three of us LOVED it.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Serving Size: serves 4
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
1/2 pound macaroni, cooked (substitute cauliflower for 1/4 lb)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons wheat flour
1 1/4 cups milk, heated
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup frozen peas

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375° F.
To make cheese sauce:
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste cooks and bubbles a bit, but don't let it brown — about 2 minutes. Add the hot milk, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens. Bring it to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste, lower the heat, add 1/2 cup cheese and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from the heat.

Butter a 1 1/2-quart casserole. Put the cooked macaroni into the casserole, pour the cheese sauce over it, and mix gently with a fork. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese evenly over the pasta.

Bake, uncovered, until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes.