Baked Mac ‘N Cheese if you please…

I tried a new recipe last night. It’s a recipe I found on an obscure recipe site and they just happen to have WW friendly recipes, so I wrote a couple of them down.

I’m always looking for ways to spruce up my menu, so I chose a WW version of Mac ‘N Cheese. It’s supposed to be 5 points value per cup. Of course it didn’t specify how many cups it made, so we’ll just go with what it said. “That’s what IT said!”
Ahem…sorry. Michael Scott just creeped in there a little.

Anyways…I followed the recipe. It was fairly simple and I made sure I had all the ingredients.

Baked Mac ‘N Cheese

I’m a Wal-mart kind of gal, but feel free to use any brand you like.  

Elbow macaroni, 12 oz – I used 16 oz (that’s 1 lb. for all you crazy math lovers out there! I used my digital scale to weigh the pasta and the cheese), cuz I’m a rebel and I already told you I’m not good at following recipes.
Low fat Sour Cream, 1/2 cup – I used almost 3/4 of a cup.  :D
Fat Free Evaporated Milk, 2-12 oz cans
Fat Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese, 6 oz.
Mexican Style Shredded Cheese; Colby Jack, 6 oz
Dijon Mustard, 1 Tbs.
1/8 tsp. Nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Plain Bread Crumbs, 2 Tbs.
Parmesan Cheese grated, 2 Tbs.
Garlic Salt, couple of shakes
Paprika, a couple shakes for color

1. Boil the macaroni for about 6 minutes until Al Dente.
2. Drain macaroni and mix in sour cream. 
3. Heat Evaporated Milk until scalded ( until bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Stir in Cheese until melted, whisking until smooth.  Add seasonings and dijon mustard and stir until incorporated.
4. Add to macaroni and mix.

5. Spray bottom and sides of pan (use either 9x13 or I used a rectangle non stick pan. I don’t know what size I used. Sorry!) and fill pan with macaroni. Sprinkle seasoned bread crumbs evenly over the top.
 

6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 min.
7. Eat and enjoy.



I’ve adjusted the recipe to make more cheese sauce. I found the original ingredient amounts made for a tasty albeit dry outcome as you can see from the picture above. I really like it more cheesy and moist (I hate that word). I think it’ll make it more points, but it’s got to be better than a full fat version of any Mac ‘N Cheese! 

It got rave reviews from the boys, which is saying something! They usually only like the boxed stuff!

I sound like a broken record, but try it! You’ll like it! Then come and tell me about it, so I can be happy that my cooking makes other people happy!! Oh and are you seeing a trend here? I make easy stuff. It’s not rocket science, just Good(er) Eats! (Is that copy write protected? Ooops! There I fixed it with parenthesis! I love those things!!

 

Love, Cheese, and Happiness!

I might as well close up shop and go home.

It's not looking good folks. 

This whole blogging everyday thing is a lot of pressure. Wait, I take that back. It's not the blogging that gives me stress it's the COOKING everyday!  Desserts is stressed spelled backwards. Coincidence? I think not.
Speaking of dessert... I  We ate all the pop tarts already. The kids were not pleased with hubby and I. Ok, confession, there was only 4 left and well...that's not enough to split between 6 people! You understand my dilemma?? Of course you do...you're an understanding bunch.

What did we have for dinner the last two days you ask?? Well... I went out with some friends from the school I worked at and the hubs and the kids went to McDonalds. Gourmet around here you guys! I had Super Salad! or is it Souper Salad...I can never remember. Anyway, I was totally going to make Crock Pot Pulled Pork for dinner today, but yeah, got a little caught up with my list of things to do and dinner didn't make it on there. And dinner tonight? Well...Chipotle was called in as a pinch hitter and scored a home run for the team!! Go Chip!

I really need to cook that chicken that's in the fridge or freeze it before it goes bad. That's another thing I am working on this year, not wasting meat thinking I'm going to cook it and do all these wonderful things with it and then having to throw it away. I know, I know!! (shaking my head in shame)

Anywhoo...that's what I've been up to. Just keeping it real! Wow...that's so real it's scary. Ok, make you a deal. I'll keep it semi-real. How's that? Ok...I'll work on that.