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!

53 comments:

The Purple Carrot said...

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! : )

Nicole said...

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

Lauren said...

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!

Anonymous said...

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!

Fitnessista said...

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

LK- Healthy Delicious said...

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

Bec said...

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

Tanya said...

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.

~M~ said...

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!! :)

Kerstin said...

Yum, I love this lightened up version!

Anonymous said...

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

ChickPea said...

I LOVE Ellie Krieger! Great idea to add cauliflower.

Anonymous said...

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!

Esi said...

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.

Miz said...

tweeted this post.
hope thats ok!

Aggie said...

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

Bridget said...

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.

Krista said...

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

vanillasugarblog said...

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?

Jessica said...

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

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

Maria said...

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!

Michelle @ Find Your Balance said...

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!

amanda said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

teresa said...

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

Lori said...

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

Chef Jeena said...

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

K from ksgoodeats said...

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!!

Melissa @ For the Love of Health said...

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!

Brooke said...

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!

Sweetie Pie said...

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!

Brandi said...

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

Diana said...

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!

Alison Can Read said...

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.

Rebeca said...

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

Trying To Heal said...

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!

Nutritious is Delicious said...

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

Holly said...

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. :-)

Balance, Joy and Delicias! said...

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?

Creative Classroom Core said...

Looks delicious!
Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

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

Lucky for a short week!

Stacey said...

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

HEAB said...

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!

Unknown said...

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

Chef Fresco said...

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

CaSaundraLeigh said...

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

HangryPants said...

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

Congrats on being an auntie by the way!!!

Samantha said...

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

Chef Fresco said...

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

The Blonde Duck said...

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

elise said...

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

Diana said...

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!

Nutritious is Delicious said...

That dish looks fabulous! Yum!!! :D

Enjoy your weekend!