MACARONI AND CHEESE

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MACARONI AND CHEESE

Want to spend some time with the kids tonight and there's just no "extra" time? Well make supper together! You all have to eat and this mac and cheese dish is sure to please everyone in the family.

1 each carrot, zucchini, and sweet red pepper peeled and cubed
1 tbsp Vegetable oil
3 cups milk
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups old Cheddar cheese shredded
4 oz. Light cream cheese
to taste salt and pepper
5 cups pasta, elbows are traditional but consider fusilli, or wagon wheels.
1 cup bread crumbs
3 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

In a bowl, toss vegetables with oil, spread on lightly greased baking sheet. Roast in 450F (230C) degree oven for 25 min.
Whisk 1/4 cup of the milk with flour. In saucepan, heat remaining milk over medium heat until bubbles appear around edge; whisk in flour mixture and bring

to boil while whisking. Reduce heat to cook medium-low; cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until thickened.
Remove from heat. Whisk in cheddar and cream cheeses, salt and pepper until smooth. Meanwhile in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 8 minutes or until just tender. Drain and return to pot; stir in sauce and vegetables. Spoon into greased 8 cup (2L)
casserole.
Combine crumbs, butter and Parmesan; sprinkle over pasta.

Bake in 450 degree oven for 10 minutes or until bubbling and golden on top. Makes 6 servings.

Allow the children to measure, peel, stir, or combine toppings (depending upon age and ability) under your watchfull eye. A Fork or teaspoon is easier for a small child to use than a whisk.
There are math lessons (measuring), science lessons (melting) and shareing lessons (taking turns) to be had here and the kids don't even know! They just remember how much fun they had making supper with you.

Don't underestimate how good a meal tasts to a child that has contributed to it's creation. Be sure to listen. I am constantly amazed at what you can learn from a child when they "chat" with you. Without the pressure of coming up with a precice answer to "What did you do in school today?" most children are happy to express more than just what they "did". They may tell you how they felt!

   

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