One of the more popular things that I make is a mac ‘n cheese dish with a mix of vegetables, usually with the veggies listed above, though you can use a different mix or omit them altogether. Michele, one of our friends from college, asked for an easy mac ‘n cheese recipe the other day. I responded that I had a good recipe though it’s a bit more complicated than a traditional mac ‘n cheese. I think the results, however, are worth the bit of extra work. Frankly, adding the vegetables enhances the flavor and presentation. It also adds some health benefits to an otherwise rather unhealthy dish. As an extra bonus, kids usually really like this dish, so it provides a compromise for something kids love with a way to sneak in some veggies.

I start by sautéing some sliced mushrooms with onions and add chopped garlic at the end. After that, I make Mornay sauce which is basically Bechamel sauce with cheese added and melted at the end. It’s easy…promise. It just sounds complicated. Otherwise, you just unthaw some frozen peas, mix everything together and place in a casserole dish with bread crumbs and some parmesan over the top and finish it all in the oven for 20 minutes or so. I garnish with Italian parsley for color. You don’t have to if you don’t wish.

I am going to make a half recipe as a whole recipe feeds a ton of people and we don’t need a lot of leftovers at chez Tara and Craig. So, the picture I include of the whole dish is only half of the full recipe that follows. Other things of note: I tend to go easy on the cheese, so feel free to add more if you prefer a very cheesy sauce. I also make more sauce than what I anticipate needing because if I make it and don’t have enough, I don’t want to have to go back and make another batch of Béchamel, etc. If you have extra sauce at the end, you can google Béchamel recipes and surely find something delicious to make with it. Also, if including the mushrooms, it’s important to cook them prior to adding them at the end because if raw, the mushrooms will release liquid which will affect the taste and thickness of the sauce. Finally, if you don’t wish to add the bread crumbs and parmesan, you can simply stop at the point of mixing everything together and just serve the dish. I prefer to finish it in the oven per the recipe but it is really personal preference and, let’s face it, how much time you have.  Recipe and another picture after the jump! Continue reading →