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Monday, June 1, 2009

Cauliflower & Squash Mac N Cheese

Ok, so we made it through Monday :) Hope yours treated you well! I had a busy day at work, so the day really flew. When I got home, I did a bundle of cleaning/house work and then Jenny and I headed out for a run. We were a little nervous because it was around 90 degrees out, but it turned out there was a nice breeze and we easily hammered out 6 miles!

When we got in, I started on dinner- Ellie Krieger's Macaroni and 4 Cheeses (I call it Squash Mac N Cheese). I made a few adjustments:
  • I used skim milk instead of 1% (its what we had!)
  • I used 6 oz of 2% milk Cheddar (instead of 4 ounces of full fat Cheddar and 2 ounces Monterrey Jack)
  • I did not add salt or mustard
  • I added extra cayenne pepper
  • And I added a bundle of cauliflower to the mix

The result:



So good- one of my favorite dinners for sure.

I also received a package of Zoe bars and an adorable card from the wonderful Bridget of Yogurt and Berries!! I am super excited to try them. Thank you Bridget!


What are you looking forward to this week? We're headed to a wedding on Friday, so I only have a four day week!
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53 comments:

  1. The Purple CarrotJune 1, 2009 at 9:41 PM

    I like the new look you've got goin' here! ; )

    Delicious looking dinner, no wonder it's one of your favorites.

    Aaaand, last but not least ... a four day week sounds wonderful ... hope you enjoy it! : )

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  2. NicoleJune 1, 2009 at 9:44 PM

    I am looking forward to hopefully feeling less sick this week!

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  3. LaurenJune 1, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    I absolutely love adding squash to my mac and cheese. Butternut is my favorite addition, with a bit of goat cheese. So much increidle falvor.

    Yah for short weeks and weddings. I have a 4 day week as well. We are leaving for the OuterBanks this weekend...can't wait!

    Hope you had a wonderful day hun!

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  4. AnonymousJune 1, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    I've made something like that before, with pumpkin in the cheese sauce...I don't know why anyone would want plain old boring mac & cheese after tasting that! love it! and the addition of cauliflower is great!

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  5. FitnessistaJune 1, 2009 at 9:57 PM

    the mac and cheese looks awesome! ellie krieger has some amazing recipes :D
    sweeeeeet that you have a 4 day week!

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  6. LK- Healthy DeliciousJune 1, 2009 at 10:04 PM

    yum!!! this looks so creamy and good with the squash

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  7. BecJune 1, 2009 at 10:19 PM

    mmm looks great! I am looking forward to my graduation on Wednesday :)

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  8. TanyaJune 1, 2009 at 10:26 PM

    Ooh yum! This week I have little going on and I'm actually looking forward to doing mundane things like taking the bike out more often and finally getting to a yoga class.

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  9. ~M~June 1, 2009 at 10:39 PM

    I bet the cayenne was really good in it! I cannot believe it's already June! Wow! The weekend will be here before we know it!! :)

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  10. KerstinJune 1, 2009 at 11:42 PM

    Yum, I love this lightened up version!

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  11. AnonymousJune 2, 2009 at 12:55 AM

    a friday wedding! How novel...I guess i'm just looking forward to friday, haha lame!

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  12. ChickPeaJune 2, 2009 at 12:57 AM

    I LOVE Ellie Krieger! Great idea to add cauliflower.

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  13. AnonymousJune 2, 2009 at 1:03 AM

    That mac & cheese looks so yummy! And I don't know if I've told you, but I love the new layout.

    I'm going to Germany on Thursday... very excited for that!

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  14. EsiJune 2, 2009 at 1:09 AM

    I'm looking forward to the week being over!

    I have been wanting to try this mac and cheese for a while. It looks great.

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  15. MizJune 2, 2009 at 7:03 AM

    tweeted this post.
    hope thats ok!

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  16. AggieJune 2, 2009 at 8:20 AM

    I've never tried that recipe but it looks so good! I love the extra veggies in it! YUM!

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  17. BridgetJune 2, 2009 at 8:22 AM

    LOVE Ellie! I have been wanting to try that one out since I saw in on her show, and I love the addition of the cauli!

    YAY you got the bars :) Sorry it took so long.

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  18. KristaJune 2, 2009 at 9:20 AM

    I've made that recipe before and it was fabulous! Good idea putting the sauliflower in there!!!

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  19. vanillasugarblogJune 2, 2009 at 9:25 AM

    that's my girl! extra cayene!
    I have very little clients this week so I'm kind of enjoying the time off of being home and chilling and testing new recipes.
    How's my buddy Frank?

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  20. JessicaJune 2, 2009 at 9:43 AM

    I love that "mac & cheese" recipe, it is one of my favorites!

    Love short weeks, I need to have more of them!!!

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  21. MariaJune 2, 2009 at 9:43 AM

    I don't know how you run in the humidity. I am sweating before I even start my workout..ha!
    Looks like a great way to lighten up a classic. Who's getting married? Have fun at the wedding!

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  22. Michelle @ Find Your BalanceJune 2, 2009 at 9:45 AM

    This week I'm looking forward to my teleseminar on Wednesday, wish me luck! And I have a table at our local Farmers Market on Thursday. Busy week!

    Here's a book I thought of for you when I read your yummy recipe:

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580089356/heidiswanson-20/

    Have a great week!

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  23. amandaJune 2, 2009 at 10:05 AM

    that mac and cheese looks so good! but i know mine wouldn't turn out looking as delish as yours. oh pity. haha.

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  24. AnonymousJune 2, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    Oh wow! Six miles in that heat?!?! You're so dedicated!
    Nice changes to the bloggity!
    I'm looking fwd to the wknd already ;)

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  25. teresaJune 2, 2009 at 10:37 AM

    This looks wonderful, adn I bet the extra veggies just add more flavor to the mac n cheese!

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  26. LoriJune 2, 2009 at 11:44 AM

    Thanks so much for sharing that recipe. What a great way to have mac & cheese. Hope the rest of your week goes well!

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  27. Chef JeenaJune 2, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    Squash with mac and cheese sounds great Erica. :-)

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  28. K from ksgoodeatsJune 2, 2009 at 12:47 PM

    Way to go with the run!! That mac and cheese looks and sounds incredible!

    I'm looking forward to going out quite a bit this week - 3 days in a row, oy vey!!

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  29. Melissa @ For the Love of HealthJune 2, 2009 at 1:24 PM

    That mac n cheese ensemble looks sooooo good! :-)

    Awesome on the long run! Thank Goodness for breezes sometimes!

    I am looking forward to the ball game on Thursday night! Go Orlando! It's too obvious if LA wins haha

    Have a great day!

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  30. BrookeJune 2, 2009 at 2:10 PM

    I love this new layout my dear!

    You are quite the chef! Everyone of your posts has a new delicious creation! Mac n cheese was my FAV meal growing up! So good so good!

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  31. Sweetie PieJune 2, 2009 at 2:44 PM

    Cheesy goodness!! Oh my! That looks amazing!

    I'm looking forward to my parents arrival on Saturday from Arkansas. They will be staying with me for a whole week. Fun!

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  32. BrandiJune 2, 2009 at 3:20 PM

    I still haven't tried that mac'n'cheese recipe, but I love all the other Ellie recipes I've tried. It looks great!

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  33. DianaJune 2, 2009 at 3:49 PM

    Mac and cheese is one of my favorite dinners too! This recipe looks fantastic -- I really need to try to make it from scratch sometime instead of always relying on a restaurant to make it for me!

    This is a good week for me -- a pedicure tonight, and a couple dinners out with girl friends. Need to do something now that all my shows are done for the summer!

    Hope you enjoy your short week!

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  34. Alison Can ReadJune 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM

    Delicious mac and cheese! Looks like good substitutions too. I always wonder how important it is to use 1% or 2% where called for instaed of skim. It's such a hassle to buy it. Glad yours still tasted good.

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  35. RebecaJune 2, 2009 at 5:33 PM

    I love mac and cheese and I love cauliflower and cheese so this sounds perfect to me... Yum!

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  36. Trying To HealJune 2, 2009 at 8:33 PM

    that mac and cheese sounds amazing! i def like the addition of vegs!

    and this week...i have no idea...i don't know when my week is going to end! ah!

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  37. Nutritious is DeliciousJune 2, 2009 at 9:51 PM

    Genius MacNCheese!!
    I'm looking forward to Free Sonic Floats Tommorrow! haha

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  38. HollyJune 2, 2009 at 10:58 PM

    Mmmm - that mac n'cheese looks delish! I'm bookmarking that one for sure.

    Love 4 day weeks! I'm looking forward to a certain b-day. :-)

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  39. Balance, Joy and Delicias!June 3, 2009 at 6:01 AM

    such a delicious and light version of mac n cheese!!! And great package of goodies from Bridget!
    I'm looking forward to ...... I don't know... maybe do some baking this weekend?

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  40. Creative Classroom CoreJune 3, 2009 at 9:53 AM

    Looks delicious!
    Love your blog!

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  41. AnonymousJune 3, 2009 at 12:57 PM

    Love that recipe idea! I'll have to check out Ellie's version too!

    Lucky for a short week!

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  42. StaceyJune 3, 2009 at 3:30 PM

    Cauliflower and Squash macaroni and cheese sounds amazing! I have to try this out!

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  43. HEABJune 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM

    Erica,
    Great idea to bulk up your mac and cheese with the cauliflower. I've been using it to bulk up my oats and man, does it leave me full.

    This week, I'm looking forward to a light few days of work. Massage business is kind of slow over the next few days, but that's okay with me. I'm tired and looking forward to the break!

    Hope you're enjoying your short week!

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  44. UnknownJune 3, 2009 at 8:53 PM

    Love the cauliflower action you got goin on in that mac n cheese :) have a great time at the wedding!

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  45. Chef FrescoJune 3, 2009 at 9:37 PM

    Cauliflower & squash in mac n cheese?! Yum!! A very yellow creation :)

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  46. CaSaundraLeighJune 4, 2009 at 9:46 AM

    Oo that looks super good even though I am not a huge fan of cheese! This weekend is finally supposed to be nice out, so if it holds true I am looking forward to enjoying the outdoors =D

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  47. HangryPantsJune 4, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    Yes, I like the new layout and the mac & cheese.

    Congrats on being an auntie by the way!!!

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  48. Samantha June 4, 2009 at 5:32 PM

    I am not usually a big fan of pasta but this dish looks delicious. I might have to give it a go.

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  49. Chef FrescoJune 4, 2009 at 6:23 PM

    P.S. Thanks for your sweet comment on our blog! :)

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  50. The Blonde DuckJune 4, 2009 at 8:48 PM

    I didn't know you could put califlower in mac and cheese!

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  51. eliseJune 5, 2009 at 1:26 PM

    im looking forward to nicer weather! i work this weekend :( but i only have 4 more shifts til hawaiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!

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  52. DianaJune 5, 2009 at 4:06 PM

    Blog looks great!

    I'm totally a convert for throwing cauliflower in to random dishes - I love the nutty flavor it can take on, as well as its ability to be a total chameleon and just add volume!

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  53. Nutritious is DeliciousJune 7, 2009 at 4:10 PM

    That dish looks fabulous! Yum!!! :D

    Enjoy your weekend!

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