It's a fact that one of the hardest things to give up when you can't eat gluten is pasta. I only buy pasta and bread sparingly, mainly because the GF versions are really pricey. Also, I have a hard time dealing with grains in general. I always feel bloated and a bit yucky after eating a lot of carbs, no matter the source--but of course I have other really disgusting results when I eat wheat, barley, and rye!
Here I am sharing a "Sort of Homemade" quick and easy Mac & Cheese.
Ingredients:
12 oz Package of your favorite GF Pasta. (I use Jovial brand for a great texture.)
6 oz Cheddar Cheese cubed or shredded (Sharp Cheddar is best)
1 Jar Alfredo Sauce - GF (I use Classico)
Cayenne - Dash
Turmeric - Dash
Salt - to taste
Olive oil
Water
Gluten Free Bread or Crackers (I do a mix of both)
Butter
Preheat oven to 350
Bring 6 cups salted water with a couple of Tblsp of Olive Oil (or oil of your choice) to a rolling boil. Add pasta and follow directions on box--don't overcook--leave it a little Al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, put the alfredo sauce in a small sauce pan on medium low heat. Add the cheese and stir frequently to keep the sauce and cheese from scorching. I like to add a bit of cayenne for heat and a little turmeric for flavor. Once the cheese is blended with the sauce, turn the heat to very low.
When the pasta is cooked drain well, then place back in pan and stir in your sauce.
If you want, you can serve the Mac and Cheese as is and it's pretty delicious--but for a special treat read on!
Place your mac and cheese in an oven proof pan. Melt 4 Tblsp of butter over low in a saute pan. While the butter is melting, take 3 or 4 slices of brown rice bread and crumble into very small texture. Also, you can crumble some GF crackers (I like the Glutino Table Crackers) into the crumbs for a nice texture. Take your melted butter and saturate your crumb mixture. Spread the crumbs onto your mac and cheese and place in your warm oven. Let it bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the crumbs on top are browned.
You can also add veggies and my non, vegetarian friends and family like chicken or tuna for a nice casserole. If you add veggies, make sure to blanch them before hand and add them when you are combining the cheese sauce and pasta.
Like I said, this is only semi homemade, but it's super easy and is a hit with my family.
Until next time!
Grizzelda
