No. 1 : Quick Recipe
Windy Day Warmup Mac and Cheese
- 2 (15 OZ) Cans of Cannellini (White) Beans, drained and rinsed well
- 1 Cup Non Fat Greek Yogurt
- ¼ Tsp Cayenne Pepper
- Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
- 2 Cups Grated Sharp Cheddar
- 2 TB Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Box Whole Wheat Pasta Shape like Penne or Macaroni, cooked as the package directs
- 1/2 Cup (Whole Wheat) Panko
- Bread Crumbs
- Olive Oil Spray
- 3 TB Chopped Parsley for Garnish
Step One
Preheat the oven to 350F. Puree the beans and the yogurt together in a food processor. Add in the cheddar and Parmesan.
Step Two
Pour into a casserole dish and stir in the cooked pasta. Sprinkle the panko over the top of the casserole and spray with the olive oil.
Step Three
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until bubbly and browned at the edges. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
No. 2 : Kitchen Scoop
I’ve added couple of ingredients to make this mac and cheese more delicious, and lighter, too. You won’t be able to taste the 1/4 Tsp of Cayenne Pepper we are adding, it simply adds a little “pop” of flavor to all the creamy dairy and cheese.The small amount of salty, pungent Parmesan reinforces the cheddar flavor to make the mac even “cheesier”. That’s a secret you can use in any cheesy casserole!
No. 3 : Get Creative
“Panko” refers to the style of bread crumbs – not the bread itself. The light airy crumbs are used in Japan for breading a dish called tonkatsu, typically a pork cutlet, dipped in egg and panko and fried. But good news -you don’t need to fry the crumbs to make them crispy and delicious!
No. 4 : Cheers!
Banfi Gavi Principessa
Piedmont, Italy
About $14
Not only are we heading into Easter and Passover, next week includes Tax Day, April 15th. This is a super easy wine that will lessen the “pain” of taxes and leave some cash in your wallet as well. Gavi is the grape that makes this wine refreshing and full of rich, round “stone fruit” flavor. When you see the words “stone fruit” in a wine description – think of the juicy fruit-forward flavor of an ripe peach, nectarine or apricot. Perfect with the cheesy goodness of this mac and cheese!