Deceptively Delicious: Macaroni and Cheese

This is REALLY GOOD mac and cheese! I used pureed cauliflower. Next time I might increase it to 1 cup, as I couldn't even tell. I doubled the recipe, and the kids gobbled it up! Serve it with whole grain noodles for more nutrition.

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
Nonstick cooking spray
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup nonfat skim milk
1/2 cup butternut or cauliflower puree
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
4 ounces (almost 1/4 cup) reduced-fat or nonfat cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander.While the macaroni is cooking, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1 to 2 minutes.Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the vegetable puree, Cheddar, cream cheese and seasonings and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the macaroni and serve warm. Serves 4.

Muffin Mixes

I found some recipes for muffin mixes today. These look really great!

Muffin Mixes

Blue Ribbon Brownies

I found this on bakerella and it looked so good that I gave it a try. Very delicious! These pictures are copied from her site - but I have to say that mine looked just as yummy.

Make one brownie mix according to directions and pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. (She suggests Betty Crocker's Supreme Brownie mix). And then mix one Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie mix according to the directions and drop by rounded tablespoons into the brownie batter. You'll want to press the dough down lightly. Bake for 35minutes (until done - cookie dough will be golden) in a 350 degree preheated oven. When they're done, take them out and let them cool completely for one hour.

Then frost them with chocolate ganache. (Recipe below) Pour it on top and spread it out evenly. Now, this is the hardest step. Leave it alone. That's right, you'll want to let the ganache set up. It will be tough, but you can do it.

Chocolate Ganache

• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 6 Tbsp butter

In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.
Pour over the chocolate morsels.
Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth.
Pour over brownies and let set before cutting.

This recipe was originally adapted from a Betty Crocker recipe.

Tortellini con Beschiamella

1/4 cup butter (I used half this much)
2 Tbl flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
dash nutmeg
1/2 cup deli ham cut into strips (I used frozen left over ham)
1 14-16 oz pkg of frozen cheese tortellini
Parmesan cheese

Directions: For sauce, in a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour, salt, and nutmeg and stir until just bubbly. Slowly add milk. Over medium heat, bring to boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 min. and remove from heat. Add ham. Pour sauce over cooked tortellini and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

We love this so much, I doubled the recipe and we only have about 1 serving left over!

Pancake Master Mix

This recipe is from the "Set For Life" cookbook. This is my favorite pancake mix, plus it uses things I have in my food storage. I always keep it on hand and stored in a Tupperware container. When it runs out, I promptly make a new mix so it's always ready for the next breakfast. Sometimes I add blueberries or chocolate chips to make faces on the pancakes.

The Mix:
10 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups white flour
1/2 cup baking powder
4 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup sugar
nonfat dry milk:  2 cups if it is non-instant (from the cannery) or 4 cups if it is instant powder

To make the pancakes:
1 cup master mix
1 T. oil (I use olive oil to get those healthy fats)
1 egg
1/2 - 3/4 cup water
(write this part on a 3 x 5 card and attach it to your master mix container)