Had some littles over for dinner halloween dinner the other night and I made them some mac n' cheese.
Kinda, cause it wasn't really cheese. Let me explain.
These particular littles are tough. Getting them to eat things that are not pizza, hot dogs, or some other crap is not always easy.(although they will always eat carrots) So whenever they come over, I try to feed them a healthier version of something that I know that they like, like tofu dogs or homemade whole wheat pizzas. So this night, I though I would give my vegan mac and cheese and try. I mean,what kid doesn't like it? But what kind is the question. If you ask them, its got to be boxed Kraft mac and cheese. I knew when I was making it that there was a great chance that I might have to make peanut butter banana sandwiches as well, but whatever These little littles need to stop being such picky crappy eaters and yeah. Even if that means I make them eat what why don't like or that on the ride home I tell them that any pizza that is not home made will probably end up killing them) So I try, and sometimes it works.
So I made it, no cheese in sight and served it up. The verdict.... The mr, he loved it. My sister (she came too) she was into it as well. One little ate almost an entire bowl, and the other, well he spit it out, but he is more a hot dog guy then a mac and cheese guy so his opinion doesn't count. So to conclude, yes, this is a fantasic mac and cheese that just happened to be cheese less, full of veggies, and damn tasty!
And serving suggestion DON"T LET THE LITTLE KNOW IT"S NOT REAL CHEESE!!! They don't need to know
To the mac!
The stuff. A small butternut squash, a potato, an onion, and a carrot. Also needed is nutritional yeast (the cheeze), garlic powder, olive oil, salt and pepper, and some water. And pasta.. don't forget the pasta.
Start with the onion and carrot in a big pot with some oil. Stick that on the stove and turn on the heat, and when that's going, chop up the butternut sqauh and the potato and toss that into the pot too. Let the stuff cook for just a few minutes.
Pour in water (enough o submerge all the veggies) and add in the garlic powder and some salt and pepper. Bring the water to a boil then turn heat down to medium and stick a lid on the pot.
Now is a good time to boil up your pasta situation (cook it the way the package says too)
When it's done, strain it. And if it happens that it is done a little before the sauce, it's cool, just drizzle it with a little oil so that the noodles don't all stick together and set aside.
Back to the sauce. Once the pot of veggies is all tender and falling apart, take it off the stove.
And blend the crap out of it with your blending method of choice (a hand o a regular blender)
Oh, and mix in the nutrioanl yeast (can add it in at the blending stage… I just forgot too) and season with any more salt and pepper if needed.
Grap the cooked noodles, dump them into the sauce and give a good mix.
golden deliciousness!
Scoop into food eating vessels,(handled coffee mugs are great for the littles.. and cute) Maybe sprinkle on some chopped green stuff(my people enjoyed the addition of chopped up kale) and serve right away!
Now you can eat all the mac n cheeze.
Happy Thursday!
-C
Butternut Mac N' Cheeze
Serve 6 or so people
- 1 lb macaroni noodles (any kind you like. vegan, gluten free, whole wheat)
- half a small butternut squash (about 2 1/2 ish cups chopped)
- 1 medium white potato
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 large carrot
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- olive oil
- water
Chop up the onion and the carrot and stick into a large heavy bottom pot with a splash or two of olive oil and stick on the stove on medium heat. While that's going on, chop up the butternut and potato into reasonable small chunks and toss that into the pot with the other stuff. Add in the garlic powder, season well with salt and pepper, and add enough water to full submerge the contents of the pot. Bring the water to a boil then reduce heat to medium and stick a cover on the pot.
While the veggies are boiling, boil the pasta up, slightly al denta (follow what the pasta people on the package tells you to do)
Once all the veggies in the pot are super tender, even falling apart (about 20 minutes) remove pot from heat and using your blending method of choice (hand or normal blender) blend everything together until smooth and creamy and then add in the nutritional yeast. Taste and if you think it needs it, add more salt and pepper. If you find that the sauce seems to thick, add in a splash or two of water.. to thin, stick back on stove and cook long to reduce.
So you got you cooked pasta and you sauce. Mix it all together. And wa la… Mac N' Cheeze
serve right away and eat it all. But any left overs can be refrigerated. Tastes great the next day warmed in a skillet with a little oil.