My hubby and I happen to L-O-V-E homemade macaroni and cheese. You know...the really fattening kind from the likes of the Williams Sonoma cookbook that has like a zillion calories and fat grams?!? (Dang that stuff is good!) :)
Well, if you'd like to enjoy some good old fashioned homemade mac 'n cheese, but don't want all those calories and fat grams, then here's a recipe for ya that I found on fitnessmagazine.com. Let me know what ya think:
Mac and Cheese Lite
Makes: 4 servings
INGREDIENTS
Nonstick cooking spray
Salt
4 ounces whole wheat macaroni
1/2 cup onion-garlic puree (see "Rocco's Secret Weapon," below)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 cup shredded 50 percent reduced-fat cheddar
1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Mist an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set it aside.
2.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions, drain.
3.Meanwhile, bring onion-garlic puree, mustard, and cayenne to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Whisk in cheddar until melted. Remove from heat and whisk in yogurt.
4.In a medium bowl, toss the macaroni with the cheese sauce. Season with salt to taste. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle panko over the top. Top with Parmesan.
5.Bake until Parmesan is melted and macaroni is hot throughout, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition facts per serving (about 2/3 cup): 237 calories, 17g protein, 31g carbohydrate, 7g fat (4g saturated), 3g fiber
Healthy Cooking Tips
Flour Power: Whole wheat macaroni keeps you satisfied longer, says award-winning chef Rocco DiSpirito.
Better Cheddar: Low-fat cheese can still be ooey-gooey and delicious. Try Cabot's 50% Reduced Fat Cheddar.
Crunch Time: Panko is the perfect topping. "These Japanese bread crumbs stay crispy, no matter what," DiSpirito says.
Culture Club: Nonfat Greek yogurt gives the rich, creamy texture of butter and cream minus the fat.