Here’s a great Macaroni & Cheese recipe adapted from the Vitamix Whole Foods Cookbook. It’s amazing when you have the right kitchen tools how pleasurable cooking can be. Vitamix makes MidLife simpler. I followed the original recipe with a few exceptions. Instead of making and seasoning the bread crumbs, I used Italian Seasoned Panko bread crumbs mixed with tablespoon of butter. Quick, easy and packed with flavor. I also added a little extra cheese. The cheese sauce looked a little “pale” so I beefed it up with about a half cup additional cheese. I used cheddar instead of American cheese.
Recipe
| 2 cups (210 g) elbow macaroni, uncooked |
| 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour |
| 1/4 cup (60 g) light butter spread |
| 1/4 teaspoon salt |
| 1 1/3 cups (320 ml) skim milk |
| 1 cup (115 g) cubed American cheese or yellow cheese |
| Crumb Topping |
| 2 slices bread, white or wheat |
| 1 teaspoon light butter spread |
| dash black pepper |
| dash garlic powder |
| dash oregano |
| dash dried minced onion |
| dash cayenne pepper |
| 1. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). 2. Cook macaroni as directed on package. Drain. 3. Spray an 8-inch x 8-inch (20 cm X 20 cm) baking dish with vegetable cooking spray then add macaroni to dish. 4. Place butter, flour, salt and milk into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid. 5. Select Variable 1. 6. Turn machine on and quickly increase to Variable 10, then to High. 7. Blend for 3-4 minutes or until heavy steam escapes through the lid opening. As mixture thickens, it will not splash as much. 8. Remove the lid plug and add cheese through the lid opening. 9. Blend for 1 minute. 10. Pour over macaroni and mix thoroughly. Cover with bread crumb mixture and bake until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. |
| To make crumb topping |
| 1. To make crumb topping, toast 2 pieces of bread and squeeze each piece into a ball. 2. Select Variable 1. 3. Turn machine on and quickly increase to Variable 4. Remove the lid plug. 4. Drop each bread ball through the lid plug opening. Blend until you have crumbs. Add seasonings to the crumbs. |
Love the panko bread crumb twist… I will be trying!
I have a good friend who owns a vitamix. I am going to have to pass this recipe on to her. It looks great.