I LOVE macaroni and cheese. It’s a favourite of mine. Homemade is especially divine although I’ll gladly settle for a box of President’s Choice deluxe white cheddar. Recently, I received the cook book, “Deceptively Delicious” by Jessica Steinfield. It’s an attractive book that’s for sure. I made the mozzarella sticks last weekend and they were gross, but I was willing to let that slide and continue on with the book. Tonight I tried out Macaroni and Cheese and found it to be delicious! It was totally quick and easy to make and I definitely recommend it. We’ll consider this a brief quotation, after all her directions are very comprehensive and any one could follow along. I’ll cut ‘em down to avoid… belittling?

Macaroni and Cheese

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
nonstick cooking spray
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. flour
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/2 cup butternut squash or cauliflower puree (I used butternut)
1 1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
4 ounces (almost 1/4 cup) reduced fat cream cheese – okay, I think this is an error because 4 ounces of cream cheese is half a cup. Throw in only 2 ounces, your common cookin’ sense will tell you why.
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. paprika

Prepare macaroni according to package.

Meanwhile, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the oil, then flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1 to 2 minutes (or less in my case).

Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then until the mixture beings to thicken, 3 to 4 minutes (or less again). Add the remaining ingredients (excluding the mac) and stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Stir in the macaroni and obviously, serve warm.

Try it out! I’m kind of thinking it’s a lot of sauce for the amount of pasta so next time I might make more pasta. I like the butternut squash because that vegetable has quite a rich flavour and it’s not called “butternut” for nothing! Let me know if anyone makes it with the cauliflower.