Green Macaroni and Cheese

As a kid, I was always in the kitchen. Whether it be to sample all the goodies my parents were making, or to lend a helping hand, I was there. So once I was old enough to cook on my own, I made sure I knew how to make some of the delicious meals my parents made. One treasure I always made (and still make today—with some modifications) was macaroni and cheese. I was not a fan of the box brand so I was lucky to have parents who would make a home-made version and of course, a healthier one by sneaking in some veggies. I grew to love broccoli in my mac and cheese because of the infamous cheddar cheese & broccoli combination that many of my friends enjoyed at their homes.

So for this month’s Recipe Redux theme, “What did you cook as a child? Or what are you cooking with kids now? Share a healthy recipe you remember making as a child or how you have fun in the kitchen with some special kids”.

I thought I’d share this special and healthier mac and cheese recipe that is super simple that a kid could make it!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter, unsalted

• 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup skim milk

• 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used a blend but your favorite cheese will work!)

• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard

• 1 cup whole wheat macaroni pasta, cooked

• 1/2 cup broccoli, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon ground pepper

Directions:

1. In a sauce pan, melt butter. Add whole wheat flour and whisk, until a paste is formed.

2. Slowly add milk to melted butter and flour mixture and mix well, until lumps are gone.

3. Add shredded cheese and mustard, mix well until cheese is fully melted. Stir in cooked pasta and evenly cover pasta with cheese.

4. Fold in chopped broccoli and season with ground pepper. Enjoy immediately.

Tip: To make this meal even more nutritious, saute some finely chopped spinach and mushroom. They make great additions to such a simple meal!

Sweet Peaches Summer Salad

Summer has finally hit me! I just finished my dietetic internship and now I have (what feels) like all the time in the world to create yummy recipes and finally get back on my recipe redux posts! For this month's Recipe Redux, I was ready to take on some of my favorite ingredients. The theme being "Peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots: we love them all! And they are at their peak season now in summer. So show us your favorite healthy recipe celebrating stone fruits", I knew a delicious and colorful sweet and savory summer salad would hit the spot!

This recipe is simple and only needs 5 awesome ingredients

Sweet and Savory Summer Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 peaches, pitted and diced
• 10 heirloom tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 small seedless watermelon, scooped into pieces or chopped
• 1/2 cup mozzarella pearls (about 10-12)
• balsamic glaze (homemade or store bought)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mix well. Pour on a large serving platter. Top with balsamic glaze and serve chilled.

For homemade glaze:

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons honey or brown sugar

Directions:

1. Add balsamic vinegar and honey (or sugar) in a small saucepan set over medium heat.  Reduce the heat to medium-low heat once the mixture begins to bubble. Simmer until reduced by half, for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool before serving.

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus Veggie Balls

I could eat hummus everyday. When I saw this month's Recipe Redux sponsored by Sabra Hummus, I had to join in on the recipe fun. I was excited to come up with a delicious plant-based entree. One of my favorite flavor combos is sun dried tomato with pesto. So one of the new Sabra hummus flavored definitely was calling my name. Introducing "no-meat" balls made with sun dried tomato hummus and veggies on a nice bed of angel hair pasta and pesto sauce. This is a simple recipe that can also be used to make leftovers-- freezer friendly! 

“I received free samples of Sabra mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Sabra and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus Veggie Balls

Makes 10-12 veggie balls

Ingredients:

For veggie balls:

• 1 cup Sabra Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
• 1 egg
• ½ cup onion, chopped
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs, divided
• ¼ cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided in ½ and ¼ cups
• ¼ cup prepared tomato pesto
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves

For pasta:

• 2 cups cooked angel hair pasta
• 4 tablespoons pesto sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place Sabra Sun Dried Tomato hummus in a bowl, set aside. In a blender or food processor, combine egg, onion, bread crumbs, oats, cheese, pesto and basil leaves, blend until you have a cookie dough like consistency. Scrape into bowl with hummus and mix well. Form mixture into 2 inch balls.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together ½ cup panko bread crumbs and ¼ cup shredded cheese. Roll each veggie ball in the crumbs, set aside.
4. Heat oil in a large frying pan and brown each ball on all sides.
5. Place veggie balls on a non-stick baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
6. Serve with pesto or marina sauce and pasta of your choice. Enjoy!