Macaroni and “Trees”
A twist on a familiar favorite
INGREDIENTS
• ½ bag of macaroni pasta
• 2 C cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 Cups milk
• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 4 Cups chopped broccoli
• 2 Tablespoons flour
Steam and set aside broccoli. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Add the pasta and cook.
Meanwhile, ready a saucepan to make a roux – melt the butter and whisk in the flour for a minute or two (cooking the roux removes the “doughy taste”).
Next, add the milk bit by bit, whisking gently to remove lumps. Lower the heat and simmer the sauce for a few minutes to thicken it, continuing to whisk. Mix in some salt and pepper to taste, and add cheese, stirring to melt. Remove from heat.
Drain pasta and gently combine in a deep baking dish with sauce and broccoli.
Set under a broiler to make a “crusty top” or bake in a 350F oven to set all ingredients, until bubbly.
Optional: Use a tiny bit of cayenne pepper rather than black, but not enough to be too spicy!
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