Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Mac and Cheese



Ingredients:
1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup homemade chicken stock, or canned low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
Freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3/4 tablespoon coarse salt, plus more for water
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
4 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
4 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fine bread crumbs
1 teaspoon olive oil
Olive-oil cooking spray

Cooking Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine squash, stock, and milk in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mash contents of saucepan; stir in nutmeg, cayenne, and salt, and season with black pepper. Stir to combine.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add noodles; cook until al dente, according to package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl; stir in squash mixture, cheddar, ricotta, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Lightly coat a 9-inch-square baking dish (4 inches deep) with cooking spray. Transfer noodle mixture to dish. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and oil; sprinkle evenly over noodle mixture.
Cover with aluminum foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking until lightly browned and crisp on top, 30 to 40 minutes more. Serve immediately.
Yield: 6 servings

0 comments: