Macaroni and Cheese (From a Jessica Seinfeld cookbook)

hello fans, today I made a big batch of macaroni and cheese and its delicious so its made with a cream cheese base and has a butternut squash puree Seinfeld wrote in her cookbook. so I am going to turn leftover macanoni and cheese into mac n cheese cakes, simluar to risotto cakes so will show you how to use those leftovers tomorrow so have a good day get cooking!

 

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

from Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious

 

1 lb elbow macaroni

non stick cooking spray

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon all purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butternut squash puree recipe follows

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

4 oz cream cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp pepper

1/tsp paprika

 

method 

bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. add the pasta and cook to package instructors drain in a colander. while the macaroni is cooking coat a large sauté pan 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 1-2 minutes. add the milk and cook every now and then until mixture begins to thicken 3-4 minutes add the squash puree, cheddar, cream cheese and seasonings. and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth if the sauce is too thick add a little milk to reach the desired texture you want. stir in the macaroni and serve warm.

 

butternut squash puree (enough for 2 recipes)

1 butternut squash

oil, salt and pepper

foil lined baking sheet.

 

 method

preheat oven to 400 degrees. cut ends of the squash, scoop out the seeds and cut in half. and place on a foil lined cooking cheese cut side down making sure to oil on both sides and season with salt and pepper. bake for 50 minutes until tested with a knife for doneness and let cool to handle then scoop the  flesh out to the blender and discard the skins. add 1/2 cup water to start and pure until smooth and if too clunky add a little more to loosen to puree to desired texture. then I like to portion 1/2 cup puree into baggies and freeze until I am ready to make my next dish. with another set of puree I am making coffee cake. so its a fun cookbook for families out there.