Mac and Cheese Bites (Lightened Up)
By: Lauren Gibon
Published: Saturday, January 31, 2015 - 5:50am

Ingredients




1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
2 cups cubed butternut squash (1/4″ dice)
1/4 tsp salt
8 oz block of Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
8 oz elbow macaroni (uncooked)
2 cups bread crumbs

Preparation

1 Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions.  Drain. 2 Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat.  Sauté onions, garlic and squash until onion is tender but not brown. 3 Add stock and cook until liquid has almost completely evaporated. 4 Transfer vegetable mixture to a food processor or powerful blender.  Purée until smooth. 5 Slowly add milk and purée for 20 seconds.  Add salt and grated cheese and once again purée until smooth.  Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl. 6 Once elbow macaroni is cooked, drain and add to sauce in bowl.  Mix to coat pasta.  Allow mixture to cool in the fridge for at least 1 hour. 7 Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375ºF.  Lay bread crumbs on a cookie sheet and spray lightly with cooking oil.  Toast bread crumbs for 3-5 minutes, watching closely to ensure they do not burn.  Allow to cool.  Once cool, transfer to a small bowl.  The toasting will achieve the browned look and crispy coating without deep frying. 8 Prepare egg wash by beating egg in a small bowl with a whisk or small fork. 9 Set up your work area by lightly greasing a mini muffin pan.  Set out an assembly line of mac and cheese mixture, egg wash and bread crumbs. 10 Using a tablespoon sized scoop or spoon, create balls of chilled mac and cheese mixture.  Lightly coat in egg wash and roll in bread crumbs.  Place coated balls in the mini muffin pan. 11 Bake “bites” for 10-12 minutes, or until coating is cooked and mac and cheese is heated through. 12 Serve with your favorite marinara sauce. 13 To Make Gluten Free: Use gluten free elbow macaroni and gluten free breadcrumbs, To Make Lactose Free: Use lactose free milk along with the Cabot naturally lactose free cheddar, To Make Vegetarian: Use vegetable stock or water in place of the chicken stock

About

This bites are a tasty (and nutritious) addition to your Super Bowl party.  Believe it or not- this recipe contains 2 cups of squash!  The mac and cheese is also delicious eaten alone before being rolled into balls.