Sneaky Mac N Cheese Recipes

SNEAKY MAC N CHEESE

Steps:

• Chop up the raw broccoli to desired texture (I like a mix of big and small chunks) and soak in a bowl of lightly salted cold water while preparing the rest.
• Puree onion and garlic in mini chopper or food processor.
• Cook the noodles al dente and set aside to drain.
• Follow box recipe for roux. (Melt butter, add flour and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly - careful not to burn).
• Add milk slowly and keep stirring. Add seasonings.
• Add cheese, grated or chopped and stir until melted and thickend.
• Mix with drained noodles, add raw broccoli & onion/garlic puree, and pour into a 9 X 13 baking dish.
• Top with a handful of extra cheese and Italian bread crumbs - to cover.
• Bake at 400 for about 35 minutes.
• (The cheese should brown it up but you can always add a few pats of butter toward the end if you want it browner).
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SNEAKY MAC 'N CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Coat shallow 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well; reserve.
• Meanwhile, whisk dry milk powder into low-fat milk until smooth. In large pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, until starting to brown, 2 minutes. Whisk in milk mixture until blended; cook, stirring, until thickened, 2 minutes. Stir in squash until smooth and blended. Stir in cheese, worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
• Stir pasta into cheese sauce; transfer to baking dish. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter; stir in crackers and dried thyme. Sprinkle over pasta mixture. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 15 minutes. If desired, garnish with thyme sprigs.