Mac 'n Cheese With Hidden Veggies

Hidden veggies in Mac and Cheese-style meal

Guest Blogger: Eugenia Sincovich

Many kids will say no to vegetables when they are presented in their classical shape: boiled, raw, baked. Many kids, however, won’t notice when that shape is hidden, or semi-hidden. Yet no kid, no kid at all will ever say no to a nice plate of Mac and Cheese. This is not exactly that, because instead of macaroni we use thicker pasta (penne or ziti), yet, the result is a very cheesy (the good kind of cheesy!), kid approved-dish.

If you have a picky eater, this might be a great way to sneak in some onions and spinach into their diet and provide them with a super healthy meal and very quickly.

 

For 6 to 8 servings you will need:

·         1 lb of penne or ziti pasta

·         1 tsp. of evvo (extra virgin olive oil, or regular olive oil)

·         4 very thinly chopped onions

·         4 cups of baby spinach

·         3 eggs

·         1 lb ricotta (preferably low fat)

·         1 cup shredded cheddar (preferably low fat)

·         1 cup shredded mozzarella (preferably low fat)

·         2 tbsp. dill

·         Half a cup of breadcrumbs

·         2 tbsp. parsley

Preparation:

1.      Set the oven to heat at 350°F (180°C).

2.    Boil water and prepare the pasta following the direction on the package and according to your own taste. Some kids prefer softer meals. While the pasta is cooking, sauté in evoo the chopped onions. Then add the spinach which will cook very fast. Turn the heat off.

3.      In a big bowl, mix together: the eggs, ricotta, cheddar, mozzarella, dill and half of the parmesan. Add the sautéed veggies and the pasta. Season accordingly to personal taste.

4.      Spread the mix in a 9’’-13’’ pan, sprayed with non-stick oil.

5.      Mix together the rest of the parmesan, the parsley and breadcrumbs, sprinkle over and bake for 30 minutes.

The result will be delicious and crunchy. Your picky eater will love it instantly!

About the author:

Eugenia Sincovich is an Argentinean writer that can’t seem to stay in one place! She loves everything that reminds her that she’s alive and does her best to convey those feelings into her texts. She currently writes for iNetGiant.

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