I can’t believe it’s not Kraft dinner: Butternut Mac n’ Cheese

Mac n’ Cheese has to be the most famous or rather infamous kiddie food staples around. Having heard the following, “Once she tried Mac n’ Cheese she wouldn’t eat anything else,” I avoided offering Ilan the Mac monster like the plague. Instead I focused on giving him a variety of healthy foods, and insisted on these options during those pesky fussy periods, and waited on the kiddie addictions until I felt he had cultivated enough of a desire and love for a variety of foods. Until now.

One thing that I’ve never quite understood is the pressure that some parents feel to offer their children certain (unhealthy) foods while they are too young to even crave them or are affected by the influence of other children. My philosophy has always been, if they don’t know it will hurt them…definitely don’t give it to them!

Just recently I introduced pasta to Ilan. And, of course, he loves it. What child doesn’t love those fun shapes and spirals that point to the stars? I pack as big a pasta punch as I can by using whole, brown rice pasta. Contrary to popular belief whole wheat pasta may sound good, but it’s very difficult to digest and is highly processed and modified. Brown rice pasta is no poor cousin to traditional semolina or white flour pasta either. It tastes great, has loads of fibre, is easier to digest and is gluten free.

Rather than making a traditional béchamel, I do the following:

1. Bring salted water to a boil and add a cup or more of pasta elbows. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and let stand.
2. While your pasta is cooking, lightly sauté some butternut squash (steam first if you’re using fresh. I keep some well prepared frozen, cooked and cubed squash in the freezer to make this meal even quicker), Red pepper, and tomato in a frying pan with butter, olive oil, garlic and a pinch of unrefined salt and pepper.
3. Then place ingredients in a blender with a dash of cream, goat milk, buttermilk, soft tofu (We suggest using Sunrise/Soyganic, Superior Tofu or Eden brands) or water. Puree until well blended and creamy and smooth.
4. You’ll be stunned by the bold, orange colour of your sauce! Place a portion of your pasta in a ramekin, add your sauce and then cover with white, (raw, organic preferred) cheddar cheese. You can serve this way or if you have time place your filled ramekin in the oven to melt the cheese. Remove from the over and let cool or more the content into a cool bowl for serving to your little one. Enjoy!