Thursday, May 14, 2015

Mac N Cheese with Hidden Cauliflower

I'm REALLY pregnant and my ankles  cankles are very pronounced these days.  Yet, I still wanted to make some homemade macaroni and cheese along with dinner last night.  I always serve a vegetable with the meal, and maybe one teeny tiny top of a broccoli floret will get consumed by my kids.  Last night I had an idea -- a brilliant idea.  I made my cheese sauce with 2 full cups of cauliflower.  Much Vitamin C was consumed last night.  My husband, who tends to hate cauliflower, was even fooled!  I cannot believe how well this meal both tasted and hid the veggies!

Cauliflower Mac N Cheese

One 16 oz bag of frozen cauliflower, steamed
One stick of butter
2 7oz bags of shredded cheese (I used mac n cheese blend)
One box of pasta (we used macaroni, but I've used rotini with good results too)
1/3 cup of heavy cream
1 tsp of garlic
salt to taste
1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs, divided
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
Parmesan cheese (optional)


Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cook pasta according to directions and drain.

In a food processor, chop the stick of butter and the steamed/drained cauliflower to a fine consistency.  Add the cheese, cream, garlic, and salt and use the chopper to mix.

In a baking dish add half the pasta and half the cheesy cauliflower mixture.  Then, sprinkle the top with half the Panko crumbs and half the Italian seasoning.  Repeat with the second half of the pasta, cheesy cauliflower mixture, Panko crumbs and Italian seasoning.  Finally, sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese if desired.  Bake about 30 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are slightly brown.  Deliciousness!