Greek Macaroni-n-Cheese (And A Giveaway!) (CLOSED)
BlogHer recently contacted me with a mission--redo a classic recipe using Country Crock, but ramp up the vegetables so that the recipe meets the USDA recommendations for vegetables to take up half of your plate.
Now THAT is my kind of mission. I've spent the majority of the summer reveling in the joy that is the farmers market. We've been enjoying tons and tons of fresh eggplant, spinach, onions, zucchini . . . you name it. We're all about the vegetables these days.
The whole Vegetable-palooza was exactly why I hadn't made macaroni-n-cheese from scratch recently. As much as I love making it and as much as everyone loves eating it, the whole pasta-with-cheese thing wasn't really cutting it as a balanced meal. If there is one thing macaroni-n-cheese needs, it's vegetables.
Hello, Use More Veggies Mission! Meet my friend macaroni-n-cheese!
Of course, I couldn't just throw some broccoli in my standard macaroni-n-cheese recipe. That wouldn't be any fun. Instead, I decided to try making a Greek-influenced macaroni-n-cheese.
You guys.
YOU GUYS.
This stuff turned out AMAZING. It's packed with veggies and perfectly balanced with the right cheeses and OMG. SOOOO GOOD. My husband even admitted that it might be the best thing I've ever made up. I might be willing to admit that he was right.
It's a multi-step process, and worth every second of the effort. You'll make the macaroni, sauté the vegetables, and make the cheese sauce. Then you'll throw it all together and put it in the oven for a bit. I made enough to serve 6, which means we'll be reheating it for leftovers later in the week. You gotta love a dinner that gives twice.
Greek Macaroni-n-Cheese
For the pasta and vegetables you'll need:
2 cups macaroni
1 tablespoon Country Crock
1 small red onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 pound spinach
1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
1 2.25 oz can sliced black olives
1 can quartered artichoke hearts
1/2 cup Feta cheese
Optional: sundried tomatoes
For the cheese sauce you'll need:
2 tablespoons Country Crock
1 teaspoon flour
2 cups nonfat milk
1 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1 cup shredded Provolone cheese
Start by cooking the macaroni according to the instructions on the box.
While you're waiting for your water to boil, melt 1 tablespoon of Country Crock in a skillet over medium heat. Add the red pepper, onion, and garlic and sauté until softened. Toss the spinach on top. Don't worry if it doesn't fit at first. The spinach will shrink. A LOT.
Stir occasionally until the spinach is sautéd. Add the tomatoes, olives, artichoke hearts, and sundried tomatoes (if you're using them). (I couldn't not use sundried tomatoes. They make my husband a very happy man.)
So much good stuff going on there.
By the time your veggies are sautéd, your macaroni is probably done. Drain it and then toss it in your skillet with the veggies. Stir it all up and set it aside while you make your cheese sauce.
Now for the sauce. Melt your 2 tablespoons of Country Crock in a saucepan (I used the same pan I used to cook the macaroni--I just wiped it dry with a towel) over medium heat. Slowly add the flour while stirring constantly with a whisk. Then slowly add the milk, all the while still stirring and stirring with that whisk.
Allow the milk and Country Crock concoction to gently boil until it begins to thicken slightly (about 5 minutes), stirring constantly. Then begin slowly adding your shredded Asiago and Provolone. Keep stirring with that whisk and you'll end up with a creamy cheese sauce.
It doesn't photograph well, but it tastes AMAZING.
Put your pasta with veggies in an oven safe dish then pour the cheese sauce over the top. Add a little bit of shredded Provolone or Asiago to the top if you want, but definitely be sure to add your feta to the top.
In a perfect world, the whole dish would go in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. I don't live in a perfect world, though, so I cheat. I turn the broiler on high and cook it until the cheese just starts to brown on top.
Nobody in my house has the patience to wait for anything to bake more than five minutes. It just is, so I use the broiler a lot. It seems to do the trick just fine.
What you end up with is a macaroni-n-cheese that tastes AMAZING and has a ton of vegetables in it.
And, as she said, "It's so yummy!"
Wait! There's more! Tell me what you think about this recipe, and you can win a $100.00 gift certificate from Cooking.com!
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, or a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. More chances to win are available on the BlogHer.com Promotions and Prizes page. Enter between August 24th - September 30th.
Recipe
Reader Comments (341)
The recipe sounds and looks amazing - I love the idea of adding veggies and greens to mac n cheese for a heartier, healthier, and tastier meal. Fantastic! I might add a little spice to the mix, maybe some paprika or crushed red pepper flakes, for a bit more kick, but I'm definitely going to try this one out. Thanks for sharing!
gkaufmanss at yahoo dot com
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/guettel78/status/110528588301860864
This sounds so yummy and I love cooking with spinach. I like the idea of the olives with all the cheese, and sauce looks easy too! Yum!
I love anything with cheese, and using feta and cheese sauce? I would be in heaven. I have to try it with my kids.
My tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/thesugarpixie/status/110539770664464384
Yummy!!! I'm going to have to try this recipe!
That recipe looks delicious! Can't wait to try it!
We have a vegetarian daughter and this sounds wonderful....for all of us!!!
That looks so delicious! I'm hungry now!
Great idea! I can definitely see experimenting with this... zucchini and bell pepper bits and....!
fun recipes to try, thanks
This sounds so yummy! And it looks really nice too!
I tweeted this today:
Enter to win a $100 Gift Card for Cooking.com.
and check out an amazing recipe for Greek Mac n Cheese at theburghbaby.com
twitter handle "sewmanythings"
That is definitely a recipe I am willing to try, although I am not fond of cooked spinach, but others in the family are. Might I suggest that you figure out some way to print recipes off without all the pictures--they added a lot to the blog post, but I don't need them to print the recipe off.
I am always looking for ways to make comfort foods healthier and this is a perfect example of what I love to eat! I can't wait to try this. It is full of comfort but healthy ingredients make it taste, but not feel, guilty!
Love all colorful veggies you put it, brilliant idea.
tweet.https://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/111314316027904000
I followed that little "rollover for recipes from Country Crock" line on top of your blog and saw this. Guess thats a REALLY good way to add some butter to your life LOL. Wishing I could get my kid to even TRY things like this let alone say "Yum!"
If it weren't for the pictures I doubt I would try it. But it looks GOOD. With SPINACH! Have to try this!
https://twitter.com/#!/miriama59/status/111386355719864320
This recipe looks amazing! Can't wait to try it!
What do I think? It looks heavenly. I want some right now!
leahforlove at aol dot com
http://abutterflyinmystomach.blogspot.com/2011/09/country-crock-is-giving-away-100.html
blogged about it!
I'm ALL for trying out new recipes on my kids! Sounds good!
this looks delicious and I am definitely going to try to make it!
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/111552807177424897
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
The mac and cheese looks AMAZING! Yummy.
Looks so yummy and healthy! Thanks for the giveaway!
tweeted-http://twitter.com/#!/ElenaIstomina/status/111638436678606848
I like this recipe! I will try this recipe next time.
http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/111644044593082370
Yummy! Veggies & cheese & pasta?!?!? So win!
Oh and gimme the GC!
somehow I missed this one....possibly because the post is still saved in google reader until I get a chance to make it!!
tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/carolineanne/status/112208776085512193
looks yummy...
Omigosh, I want to drool it looks/sounds so tasty. I bet this would be great with spinach and ricotta ravoli (in place of macaroni) and sliced grilled chicken. Yumm! Thanks for sharing :)
Ooh, that looks good!
tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/kdiddy/status/112235696537870337
This recipe looks amazing! Strangely, I never thought of adding spinach to mac & cheese.... hmm...
Looks divine! Now I have a great excuse to go to the farmers market again this week!
It sounds great AND it is vegetarian (like me!).
I'm not a fan of veggies at all, but this looks so good that I have to try it!
Looks colorful , don't know if my kids would eat it without picking out just the macaroni.
alliana88m At yahoo DOT com
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/talliana1/status/112330672600915968
alliana88m At yahoo DOt com
very colorful and chock full of vegetably goodness seaburd at comcast.net
I love cooking with fresh spinach- this recipe looks amazing!
nrdunningATgmailDOTcom
tweet
http://twitter.com/ohstac/statuses/112593286073548800
nrdunningATgmailDOTcom
Looks great, I'm going to try this on my five year old who used to love veges and suddenly decided she doesn't want to eat them.
Honestly? You couldn't pay me to touch this. I can't stand onions or cooked tomatoes. The cheesy noodles look great though!
Love it! Then again, all of the ingredients are ones I use regularly in my pasta anyway! :)