Margo out of lurking Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 It doesn't have to be super healthy; I want something better than Kraft-in-a-box, and Velveeta in a sauce. I am happy to make homemade, but I'm also happy to buy Annie's if it's really that much better than Kraft (not that we have a large selection of Annie's here). I don't want it super-healthy, no added veggies, etc. I want something that my 10yods will really like, and that I will be happy for him to eat. Would you share any recipes that you've tried and think we might like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 from the back of the Muller's box and make a few changes. http://www.online-cookbook.com/goto/cook/rpage/00156D Our changes: We use Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta (6 g fiber, 6 g protein) We use 2% sharp cheddar or sometimes mix in swiss. We use lowfat milk and halve the butter with olive oil. My son prefers this over box and it really doesn't take that much longer. We skip the baking part and it tastes fine. hth K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 If you search the Weight Watchers website (you don't have to be a member) I have gotten a recipe for mac & cheese there. I used whole wheat pasta, fat free milk and fat free/low fat cheese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 (edited) The poor thing happens to be a vegetable -- :D -- but a little onion sauteed in olive oil adds wonderful flavor to homemade mac-&-cheese. We use wholewheat elbow macaroni. When the pasta is ready, I drain it (but do not rinse it, because I want the heat available). Over lowest heat, add to the pasta grated Monterrey Jack cheese, the onion, and just enough (very little) milk to help the cheese melt and coat the pasta evenly. (No butter needed. Not with all the fat in the cheese !) (Fat-free cheese does not work at all. -- Some amount of fat is needed.) The key to good macaroni-&-cheese is pretty much the same as the key to all cooking: No dish is better than the quality of the ingredients used to make it. We tried Annie's once, years ago. The dead bugs in the package frightened me away from ever buying it again. A couple of years ago, for unknown (to me) reason, Whole Foods presented me with a 10-pack of Annie's boxed mac-&-cheese. No bugs this time, but we just couldn't get excited over dehydrated cheese powder. P.S. I forgot to mention "Millionaire's Macaroni and Cheese" : Use freshly-grated Parrano cheese instead of the Monterrey Jack. I did that once for the family -- and they decided it is their preferred version. (Get a job kids, get a job, and pay for that Parrano !) Edited July 17, 2009 by Orthodox6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 The Barefoot Contessa's mac-n-cheese recipe is delicious. It is healthy in the sense of being real food. It's not healthy in the sense of being low-fat.;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstitches Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 The mac and cheese my mom taught me to make involves making a white sauce and adding cheddar cheese to it, pouring it over cooked noodles, adding hotdog/sausage bits (I use Lil' Smokies cut into thirds), and then baking it in the oven for 40 minutes. It takes a little longer than Kraft, but I think it's worth it =) I don't have time right now, but I can post the recipe tonight if you're interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margo out of lurking Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 Thanks, ladies, you rock! These were great suggestions; I am planning to go with the Miller's recipe since it looks easy to make and I can easily substitute healthier pasta, fat free milk, etc. Some of the other recipes definitely appealed to my taste (ooh, Barefoot Contessa's come to mind!), and I'll be looking at those again later. Thank you again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Well, you can you the Barilla Plus healthy pasta in the yellow box. It is high protein, high fiber, low carb. I don't know about the sauce though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loupelou Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 We love this mac and cheese, but it is not lowfat!:D Make a white sauce and add shredded colby and smoked swiss cheese. Saute an onion and garlic and add to the cheese sauce. Mix with the macaroni then add some italian style bread crumbs and half a pack of cream cheese. Yummy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I agree about sauteed onion (cook it WELL -- raw doesn't taste good). But here's a great tip I got from Martha Stewart: Use boiled (or baked or roasted, I guess) sweet potatoes. I am not into sneaking things into the diet, but I like this. It increases the healthiness of the dish and you can't taste it, except that it becomes a bit sweeter. If you mash them really well and then mix into the sauce (even better if you blend it all together), it's really good, honest! I make a bechamel sauce and then add cheese. I substitute some of the pasta water (maybe 1/2 - 1 c) for some of the milk when I make the sauce. Obviously using low fat milk helps too. And use the strongest tasting cheese you can find that you like -- that way you get the most "oomph" for your calories. Extra sharp cheddar, for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary in VA Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 My kids have always loved it and ask for it often. Cook 2 and 1/2 cups elbow macaroni and put in a casserole dish. Add some chopped up ham. In a blender put 1 can cream of celery soup, 1 can's worth of milk and about 1/4 of a small onion. Blend this up. Add 8 oz of cubed cheddar cheese to the blender mixture and blend until smooth. Pour over the mac and ham in the casserole. Bake with lid on in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. If you like a dryer top, sprinkle grated cheese on top and bake with the like off. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I just remembered this one I've seen. I haven't made it yet but it looks good to me. http://showmethecurry.com/odds-ends/macaroni-and-cheese-with-a-twist.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 There is no such thing as a delicious mac and cheese that is HEALTHY.....LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.