Veggie Packed Macaroni and Cheese

Posted on March 28, 2015 by kitchenbelle

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My husband is gluten free and our girls LOVE macaroni. I float somewhere in the middle. I am certainly not gluten free (GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!), however, I  could easily live without pasta. Typically I make a single meal for the four of us, however, sometimes it makes sense to make a big batch of macaroni for the kids that can be reheated for lunches and dinners a few nights in a row. And that is how I came to make this veggie packed macaroni.

This was a huge hit with the little ones! In fact, my oldest yelled, “This is the best meal ever!!!” when I set it on the table. Wow! I wish I received that kind of enthusiasm every night! I had to agree with her–this is darn good. I”ll be honest–I think the wheel-shaped macaroni is a huge selling point. The tiny spokes ooze with the gooey, drippy, melty cheese sauce in the most wonderful of ways. Also, the chunky little circles of pasta are easy for little fingers to pick up and pop in their mouths.

Veggie Packed Macaroni and Cheese:

  • 3 cups uncooked wheel-shaped macaroni
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • salt and black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the macaroni and diced carrots. Set timer for 9 minutes and cook until your timer has four minutes remaining then add the broccoli. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the timer goes off and/or pasta is al dente. Remove from heat, add in the peas, stir, and reserve 1/3 cup of the cooking liquid. Then, drain the pasta/carrot/broccoli/pea mixture and set aside.

Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat, then add in the diced onions. Cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk and broth. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, then reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes, until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat, and stir in the cheddar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir until smooth.

In a large bowl, stir together cooked macaroni/veggies, reserved cooking liquid, + the cheese sauce. Transfer to the prepared 9×13 dish. bake at 350 F for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Recipe from The Fearless Homemaker.

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Add the shredded cheese.

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Wisk, wisk, wisk, wisk!

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Drain the macaroni and vegetables.

 

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Cheesy deliciousness and veggies!

Filed under: broccoli, carrot, cheese, Main Dish, pasta, peas | Tagged: , , , | 5 Comments »

Carrot Soup (Dairy Free)

Posted on February 25, 2012 by kitchenbelle

I forgot how much I loved this broccoli soup recipe. I’m not sure why I haven’t made it in so long. I love that it is non-dairy and meat free. It is a delicious accompaniment to a panini for an easy make ahead week night dinner. Also, it stands perfectly well on its own or with a piece of crusty bread for lunch. You may be wondering why I am talking about broccoli soup if this post is about carrot soup. Well, after re-discovering my love for the broccoli soup I decided to try the same recipe swapping out the vegetable.

This carrot soup turned out really well! I love how it has a creamy texture while it does not contain any milk or cheese. It reminds me very much of the soups my host mother in France prepared for me during my term abroad in Rennes. Whenever we had a particulary hardy lunch, say on a Sunday or a holiday, she would prepare a light dinner of pureed soup like this one. Anything that reminds me of France is a winner in my book!

Side Note: I find it so funny that I posted the broccoli soup recipe exactly three years ago today!

Carrot Soup:

  • olive oil
  • 2 leeks, cleaned, root and green woody top removed, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
  • 8 fresh carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces PLUS
  • 2 fresh carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 48 ounces of vegetable broth (you can use chicken broth or stock if you prefer)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • a pinch of cayenne
  • salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Drizzle a baking sheet with olive oil and place the 8 2-inch carrot pieces in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast for approximately 20 minutes or until carrots are soft. Half way through roasting turn carrots over.

Add some olive oil to the bottom of a large soup pot.  (I used my Le Creuset.)   Warm the oil over medium-low heat.  Add the leeks, onion, garlic, and two chopped carrots.  Stir and cook until the onions are translucent. [Note: The above step is extremely important for a maximum flavor soup.  If you aren’t in a rush, cook these ingredients over low heat for a long period of time (even to the point of caramelization if you’d like, though it is not necessary) to fully cultivate the flavor.]

Add the potatoes and roasted carrots to the large soup pot.  Add the broth or stock and bay leaf.  Bring to a rolling boil and then reduce to a low boil.  Stir occasionally, cooking for about 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are all tender.

Take the pot off the heat and remove the bay leaf.  If you have an immersion blender, use that to puree the soup.  Alternately, cool the soup in the fridge for a few moments then puree in a traditional blender or food processor, one cup at a time.  Return the pureed soup to the cooking pot and warm it through.  Season generously with salt and pepper.

Filed under: Appetizer, carrot, Main Dish, soup | 2 Comments »

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Posted on April 6, 2010 by kitchenbelle

After an indulgent holiday weekend, I was flipping through America’s Test Kitchen Light & Healthy 2010 in search of something fresh and light to get us back on track.  These Asian Chicken lettuce wraps caught my eye.  A little over a year ago now, I made lettuce wraps using a recipe from the Biggest Loser. They were absolutely delicious and so much fun to eat!  I figured it couldn’t hurt to try a new recipe with a bit of a different spin.  One word for these lettuce wraps: FRESH!  I am in love with the combination of lime juice, fresh basil, scallions, and cilantro! Each bite was bursting with the flavors of nature!   I added some minced carrot for additional color, bulk and nutrition.  I must say this was a very satisfying and filling meal.  And to quote my husband, “I feel full but I don’t feel gross.” Perfectly articulated if you ask me!

*Notes:

  • These can be made gluten free by eliminating the soy sauce or subbing gluten-free soy sauce.
  • I doubled the recipe below and there was enough to feed three for dinner and two for lunch.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps:

  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • fresh squeezed juice of one lime
  • fresh grated zest of one lime
  • 1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch
  • 1 pound ground chicken or turkey (or a combination of both)
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 jalepeno chile, stemmed, seeded and minced
  • 1 carrot peeled and minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 4 scallions, sliced thin
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 12 Boston lettuce leaves (about one head) washed and spun dry

Prepare rice according to package instructions and set aside.

Whisk the soy sauce, lime juice, lime zest, and cornstarch together in a small bowl.  Set aside.

In a skillet over medium heat warm oil.  Add carrots and cook a few minutes,  or until soft. 

Meanwhile, in a small bowl mash ground meat with the back of a spoon until smooth.   Add the ground meat and jalepeno to the skillet containing carrots. Break up meat with a wooden spoon. Cook until meat is no longer pink.

Add the soy sauce mixture to the skillet and cook stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in basil, scallions, and cilantro.

Transfer meat to a serving bowl and serve with rice and lettuce. To serve, scoop some rice on top of each leaf and top with scoops of meat.

Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen Light & Healthy 2010.

Filed under: basil, carrot, chicken, gluten free, ground meat, Main Dish, rice, turkey | 2 Comments »

Chicken Lo Mein

Posted on May 18, 2009 by kitchenbelle

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 I like to keep my eye out for recipes that are delicious and fresh substitutes for takeout.  This one caught my eye because it is packed with vegetables.  Also, it contains those scrumptious soba noodles that I just can’t seem to get enough of these days!  The cremini mushrooms have a strong earthy flavor that adds some depth to this dish.  (You could always substitute button mushrooms if the cremini are too “dirty” for you.)  This dish tastes even better reheated and eaten a few days later.  This is definitely another one of those instances where you could throw this in a little white box with a thin wire handle and enjoy the best take out you never ordered!

Chicken Lo Mein:

  • One 12-ounce package of soba noodles
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • One 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and cut into pieces
  • 1 pound of chicken breast sliced into thin strips
  • 3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, vegetable oil, or a few squirts of cooking spray
  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • One 1-pound bag frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables (water chestnuts, mini corn, carrots, peppers, peapods etc.), thawed

In a medium pot of boiling water, cook noodles until tender, about five minutes.

Using a blender or food processor, finely chop the garlic and ginger.  Transfer half of the mixture to a medium bowl.  Add the chicken strips and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce to the bowl.

In a large skillet, heat the oil or spray over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken mixture to the skillet and cook until chicken is no longer pink.  Transfer to a clean bowl.

Using the same skillet add the mushrooms and the remaining ginger-garlic mixture.  Cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are tender and brown.

In a small bowl whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, the oyster sauce and cornstarch.  Add 1/3 cup of water and the chicken broth. Pour this mixture over the mushrooms and simmer until thickened. Add the thawed mixed vegetables and the chicken mixture to the skillet.  Cook until heated through. Add the noodles and toss. 

Adapted from Pork Lo Mein recipe found in Rachel Ray magazine.

Filed under: Appetizer, carrot, chicken, corn, Main Dish, mushroom, pasta, peppers, Side | 2 Comments »

Beef Bourguignon

Posted on March 2, 2009 by kitchenbelle

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 Yum, yum, and yum!  This dish is delicious!  The flavor is so much deeper and complex than I anticipated, and while this did take some time to make, it was absolutely worth it!  The applewood smoked bacon really set the tone.  What a perfect warm and cozy dish for a snowstorm.  How convenient—Boston is being obliterated with the powdery white stuff as we speak!  Light the fireplace, grab your sweetheart and a bottle of red wine, curl up and dig in! 

Beef Bourguignon:

  • 1 tablespoon good olive oil
  • 8 ounces applewood smoked bacon, diced
  • 2 1/2 pounds chuck beef or stew meat, cubed
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally
  • 2 medium onions, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 bottle dry red wine
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, divided
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 pound frozen whole onions
  • 1-2  pounds fresh mushrooms, sliced

    • Preheat the oven to 250  F.

    Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven.  (I used my Le Creuset.) Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.

    Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 -5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside.

    Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.  Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer.  Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork. *

    Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Saute the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.

    *Note: The Le Creuset user guide indicates that the knob on the lid can withstand temperatures up to 190 F.  The oven temp here is 250 F, therefore, I unscrewed the knob from the lid and removed it.  Because that left a hole,  I covered the pan with parchment paper then foil before placing the lid back on.  This created a seal preventing heat from escaping the pan.

    Adapted from Ina Garten’s recipe found here on foodnetwork.com.

    Filed under: beef, carrot, Main Dish | Leave a comment »

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