Baked Mac and Cheese

Baked Macaroni and Cheese


Ingredients:
8 oz elbow macaroni
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
2 ¼ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, separated {i like to change it up some and add some asiago, parmesan, or mozzerella cheeses to the mix as well}
1/4 cup cauliflower puree
1/4 cup carrott puree
½ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp paprika
Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook to al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. While the macaroni is cooking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour to form a paste and cook for 1 minute.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk milk into flour mixture and slowly bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 cups of the cheddar cheese. Cook and stir over low heat until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth.
5. Stir in spices and vegetable purees.
6. Combine macaroni to cheese sauce.
7. Spray 13X9 baking pan with cooking spray. Poor Mac and cheese into pan.
8. Sprinkle additional cheese over the top. Cover with foil.
9. Bake in preheated oven until hot and bubbly (about 35- 40 minutes).