Friday, November 16, 2012

Pumpkin mac and cheese


Get ready for your new addiction.  I know, I know.  It sounds freaking weird.  I mean, who puts pumpkin in their mac and cheese?  Seriously?  This girl.  And now you.  You won't regret it.

Admittedly, the recipe might get you a little more than one serving but you are gonna be super addicted so it will be ok.

You will also have another addiction after this recipe.  Your food processor.  No shit.  They're rad.  You can toss so much stuff in there and it's like magic.  My aunt gave me one for Christmas last year and I thought she had lost it but it turns out she's a genius.  Definitely an investment worth making.

So, here's what you will need (other than an open mind)

1 cup elbow macaroni (I chose whole wheat, shocker)
1 tbs butter
1 tbs flour (I chose whole wheat)
a dash of salt
a touch of pepper
1/2 c half and half
1 c milk (I chose almond)
4 oz gouda cheese
1/2 can pumpkin
a TON of snipped fresh sage (nope, dried won't do)
1/4 c soft bread crumbs
1/4 c parmesan cheese (get the good kind.  from the fancy cheese section)
1/4 c walnuts
1 tsp olive oil

Start out by preheating the oven to 350.  Cook pasta according to directions and toss it in a square baking dish when it's done.

In the meantime, pour a glass of wine.  Duh.  Take a medium saucepan (the kind with the high edges)  and melt the butter over medium heat.  Add flour, salt and pepper.  Toss in the half and half and milk.  Stir it up.  Wait until it kind of thickens and looks bubbly.  While you're waiting for that to happen take our your food processor (which I so hope you have) and get the gouda into small pieces.  Otherwise you have to grate it and if that's the case I wish you luck.  And more wine.  Toss that cheese in with the milk and stuffs along with the pumpkin and a bunch of fresh sage.  Stir up until it gets well blended and creamy.  Pour over the macaroni.

Now comes the delicious bread crumb topping.  Yeah, it gets better.  Toss the walnuts and the oil in the food processor and get it into small pieces.  Then add the parmesan and chop that up in there as well.  Now add the bread crumbs and some more fresh sage.  Once it gets to an awesome bread crumb texture sprinkle it evenly over the mac and sauce.  Bake for 20ish mins or until the bread crumbs are golden and bubbly.

Now eat up!  And drink up :)

Cheers!
Megan J