As a child, my Dad always made homemade macaroni and cheese, always. I remember being asked by a boyfriend in college to make a box a Kraft Mac N Cheese at a cookout and not having any clue what to do. I had never eaten it before or cooked it it was quite embarrassing for someone who cooked often. We had been spoiled by the real thing....the baked cheesy casserole goodness that was the scratch made golden heaven. So, instead of trying to reinvent something that was already wonderful, I just cut down on everything a little and subbed in cauliflower for the pasta. It is fabulous and the kiddos agree!
What you need...
2 heads of cauliflower
4oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup half & half
4 tablespoons butter or ghee
1 egg
1 cup shredded cheddar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
extra cheese for topping, about 1/3 cup
Preheat the oven to 375F. Remove the stem and outer leaves from the cauliflower. Break apart or cut any large pieces. Add to a large pot with about 1 inch of water, cover and turn to high heat. Bring to a boil, once boiling, steam for about 7 minutes. Turn heat off and drain cauliflower in a colander, and return pot to burner, without turning the burner back on. Press any remaining water out gently with a couple of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Add cream cheese, half & half and butter to the pot and allow it to begin to melt from residual heat. Once cauliflower is drained add it back to the pot and stir to combine while the butter and cream cheese melts. Once that has melted, add 1 egg, shredded cheese, salt & pepper. Stir to combine. Pour into lightly greased 9x13 baking dish, top with remaining cheese and baked for 40 minutes.
* Top with a light dusting of Paprika for a nicer adult presentation. ;)
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| What you need... |
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| Cut the stem and outer leaves off the bottom and break apart with your hands, cutting apart any large sections. |
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| Add to a pot with about 1" of water in the bottom, cover and turn to high heat... |
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| Once it begins to boil, steam for about 7 minutes, turn off heat. |
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| Drain... |
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| Press extra water out with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel... |
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| add cream cheese, cream, butter to the original pot (no heat)... |
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| Add cauliflower back, stirring to combine and break up any larger pieces... |
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| Add 1 egg, shredded cheese, salt and pepper and stir to combine... |
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| Pour into lightly greased baking dish (9x13)... |
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| Top with 1/3 cup shredded cheese or more if you like, but that's all I used! |
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| Bake at 375F for 40 minutes... |
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| "Holy banana pants" according to my kids.... |
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