Re: Healthy add-ins for mac and cheese?

[Guest guest]

Oh what a great idea. Do keep us updated on your experiments. I would

love to have my son eat a healthier version (he prefers Shells and

Cheese by Kraft and won't even look at organic or whole grains I bring

home, says it ruins mac and cheese, Ha Ha).

Velda

On 3/16/2012 1:45 PM, Marnie wrote:

> One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides the yummy smoothies) is

making cheese sauce from scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n' cheese -

no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other things to the cheese

sauce to thicken it and make it healthier - am thinking white beans or cashews

- just wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how much to add?

Any other suggestions that won't alter the flavor/color in an obvious way?

Thanks!

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

pureed sweet potatoes go well with lots of things and the color is right for mac and cheese if you use orange cheddar. cooked carrots would also puree well but they have a more distinctive taste (especially if you get them from a local source- at least that is what I have found) so use less carrots than you would sweet potatoes. You ideas sound good too. Also, depends on what your child has a hard time eating. If not a fan of eggs this is a good place for a few eggs as they will add protein and lots of other nutrients and aid the thickening. Lots of homemade mac and cheese recipes call for eggs anyway.

Thanks,My Favorite Video for My Little One!

On Mar 16, 2012, at 3:45 PM, Marnie wrote:

One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides the yummy smoothies) is making cheese sauce from scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n' cheese - no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other things to the cheese sauce to thicken it and make it healthier - am thinking white beans or cashews - just wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how much to add? Any other suggestions that won't alter the flavor/color in an obvious way? Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I now puree steamed cauliflower with a handful of cheese and half a garlic clove and it makes a great Mac & cheese sauce. Add a bit of avocado or steamed broccoli for a light green version -janelOn Mar 16, 2012, at 4:45 PM, "Marnie " <mdubow@...> wrote:

One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides the yummy smoothies) is making cheese sauce from scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n' cheese - no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other things to the cheese sauce to thicken it and make it healthier - am thinking white beans or cashews - just wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how much to add? Any other suggestions that won't alter the flavor/color in an obvious way? Thanks!

=

[Guest guest]

Xzanthan gum? <g> or culinary thickener available at King Arthur. These wouldn't

add any vitamins but wouldn't hurt either. It might maintain the integrity of

the Mac & cheese flavor. Just a thought.

Terry

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 16, 2012, at 5:07 PM, Velda <solomon@...> wrote:

> Oh what a great idea. Do keep us updated on your experiments. I would

> love to have my son eat a healthier version (he prefers Shells and

> Cheese by Kraft and won't even look at organic or whole grains I bring

> home, says it ruins mac and cheese, Ha Ha).

> Velda

>

> On 3/16/2012 1:45 PM, Marnie wrote:

>> One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides the yummy smoothies) is

making cheese sauce from scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n' cheese -

no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other things to the cheese

sauce to thicken it and make it healthier - am thinking white beans or cashews

- just wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how much to add?

Any other suggestions that won't alter the flavor/color in an obvious way?

Thanks!

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> ------------------------------------

>>

>> Please bookmark these pages:

>>

>> /links/

>> (this is the Links page where I save the answers to FAQs and Answers,

Recipes, and LOTS of other helpful information - this page is always being added

to)

>>

>>

/links/IMPORTANT_VitamixE\

nthusiasts_Membership__001327149393/

>> PLEASE DON'T UNSUBSCRIBE IF YOU ARE GETTING TOO MUCH MAIL! (if you

unsubscribe, you will lose access to the Links page - an Encyclopedia of

Collected Vitamix Wisdom! Go to this link to learn how to stop mail from

coming, but STILL be a member of the group so you can STILL visit the Links page

and read messages online!

[Guest guest]

be aware that if one is allergic or sensitive to corn this won't be a great choice.http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2009/11/nutrition-label-trivia-what-th.htmlsorry the reference is from glamour - I am sure there are more reliable/foody type sources out there somewhere!

Thanks,My Favorite Video for My Little One!

On Mar 16, 2012, at 5:21 PM, Terry Pogue wrote:

Xzanthan gum? <g> or culinary thickener available at King Arthur. These wouldn't add any vitamins but wouldn't hurt either. It might maintain the integrity of the Mac & cheese flavor. Just a thought.

Terry

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 16, 2012, at 5:07 PM, Velda <solomon@...> wrote:

> Oh what a great idea. Do keep us updated on your experiments. I would

> love to have my son eat a healthier version (he prefers Shells and

> Cheese by Kraft and won't even look at organic or whole grains I bring

> home, says it ruins mac and cheese, Ha Ha).

> Velda

>

> On 3/16/2012 1:45 PM, Marnie wrote:

>> One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides the yummy smoothies) is making cheese sauce from scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n' cheese - no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other things to the cheese sauce to thicken it and make it healthier - am thinking white beans or cashews - just wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how much to add? Any other suggestions that won't alter the flavor/color in an obvious way? Thanks!

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> ------------------------------------

>>

>> Please bookmark these pages:

>>

>> /links/

>> (this is the Links page where I save the answers to FAQs and Answers, Recipes, and LOTS of other helpful information - this page is always being added to)

>>

>> /links/IMPORTANT__Membership__001327149393/

>> PLEASE DON'T UNSUBSCRIBE IF YOU ARE GETTING TOO MUCH MAIL! (if you unsubscribe, you will lose access to the Links page - an Encyclopedia of Collected Vitamix Wisdom! Go to this link to learn how to stop mail from coming, but STILL be a member of the group so you can STILL visit the Links page and read messages online!

[Guest guest]

We are dairy-free, so my mac & cheese is obviously different from yours. However... the cheese sauce that I make has nutritional yeast and cashews in it, which I would guess you can add to a sauce with cheese without changing the flavor much. I really like Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula nutritional yeast flakes (T6635+), and they are full of B-vitamins and good for you minerals. The cashews help it thicken, so you could use less roux or whatever it is you use to thicken your sauce when you add cashews. I also add orange veggies to add extra vitamins and help the consistency and the color. Carrots, pumpkin, butternut squash, and sweet potato have all worked well for me and I don't add so much that it changes the flavor. For about 4 cups of sauce, one cup of veggies seems to do the

trick. HTH.

[Guest guest]

I love the Red Star flakes! I should definitely try that even in the dairy

version. Haven't tried making a non-dairy version yet but thanks for the tips!

>

> We are dairy-free, so my mac & cheese is obviously different from yours.

 However... the cheese sauce that I make has nutritional yeast and cashews in

it, which I would guess you can add to a sauce with cheese without changing the

flavor much.  I really like Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula nutritional

yeast flakes (T6635+), and they are full of B-vitamins and good for you

minerals.  The cashews help it thicken, so you could use less roux or whatever

it is you use to thicken your sauce when you add cashews.  I also add orange

veggies to add extra vitamins and help the consistency and the color.  Carrots,

pumpkin, butternut squash, and sweet potato have all worked well for me and I

don't add so much that it changes the flavor.  For about 4 cups of sauce, one

cup of veggies seems to do the trick.  HTH.   

>

[Guest guest]

Awesome ideas everyone, thanks! Will report back with any ideas that I use.

>

> One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides the yummy smoothies) is

making cheese sauce from scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n' cheese -

no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other things to the cheese

sauce to thicken it and make it healthier - am thinking white beans or cashews

- just wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how much to add?

Any other suggestions that won't alter the flavor/color in an obvious way?

Thanks!

>

[Guest guest]

Bacon.

Oh wait you said healthy. Nevermind.

Tony

[Guest guest]

Until I discovered raw milk, got my own cows and started making my own cheese, I

had to avoid ALL dairy. I made a " cheese " sauce from nutritional yeast (NOT

bakers or brewers yeast, this is specifically labeled as nutritional yeast,

available in health food stores) You can make a delicious cheesy tasting sauce

by just blending up a bit of the nutritional yeast with some rice, grain or nut

milk (also made in the Vitamix) Add herbs, if desired, and pour over your

cooked pasta-delish!

> > >> One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides the yummy smoothies)

is making cheese sauce from scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n'

cheese - no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other things to the

cheese sauce to thicken it and make it healthier - am thinking white beans or

cashews - just wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how much to

add? Any other suggestions that won't alter the flavor/color in an obvious way?

Thanks!

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >> ------------------------------------

> > >>

> > >> Please bookmark these pages:

> > >>

> > >> /links/

> > >> (this is the Links page where I save the answers to FAQs and Answers,

Recipes, and LOTS of other helpful information - this page is always being added

to)

> > >>

> > >>

/links/IMPORTANT_VitamixE\

nthusiasts_Membership__001327149393/

> > >> PLEASE DON'T UNSUBSCRIBE IF YOU ARE GETTING TOO MUCH MAIL! (if you

unsubscribe, you will lose access to the Links page - an Encyclopedia of

Collected Vitamix Wisdom! Go to this link to learn how to stop mail from coming,

but STILL be a member of the group so you can STILL visit the Links page and

read messages online!

[Guest guest]

All good ideas, thanks.

Velda

On 3/16/2012 2:13 PM, hai quan wrote:

pureed sweet potatoes go well with lots of things and the color is

right for mac and cheese if you use orange cheddar.  cooked

carrots would also puree well but they have a more distinctive

taste (especially if you get them from a local source- at least

that is what I have found) so use less carrots than you would

sweet potatoes.  You ideas sound good too.  Also, depends on what

your child has a hard time eating.  If not a fan of eggs this is a

good place for a few eggs as they will add protein and lots of

other nutrients and aid the thickening.  Lots of homemade mac and

cheese recipes call for eggs anyway.

Thanks,

My Favorite Video for My Little One!

On Mar 16, 2012, at 3:45 PM, Marnie wrote:

 

One of my favorite things about the Vitamix (besides

the yummy smoothies) is making cheese sauce from

scratch, my daughter now loves homemade mac n' cheese -

no more boxes! However, I'd like to try adding other

things to the cheese sauce to thicken it and make it

healthier - am thinking white beans or cashews - just

wondering if anyone has done this and has an idea of how

much to add? Any other suggestions that won't alter the

flavor/color in an obvious way? Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Love bacon and it does have some nutrients. It is not totally unhealthy!58% of adult daily vitamin B3, 22% of B12, 31% of B1, 24% of zinc, and a whopping 93% of selenium, 36. 3 grams of protein - all in about 1.25 cups of chopped pieces. And cholesterol is needed and necessary, just not too much. Must have fat for all of those fat soluble vitamins. Just think how much easier all those veggies go down with bacon stirred in...how many other reasons can I think of to eat bacon? haha

Thanks,My Favorite Video for My Little One!

On Mar 16, 2012, at 7:39 PM, Tony Szpara wrote:

Bacon.

Oh wait you said healthy. Nevermind.

Tony

[Guest guest]

I just made mac and " cheese " last week...yummy. Beans are a good way

to make it creamy without the cheese. Here's the recipe I used.

2 cups uncooked macaroni

1 can great northern beans (drained and rinsed)

6 tbsp. nutritional yeast (not brewer’s yeast)

½ cup canned diced tomatoes (see note)

1 tbsp. lemon juice

½ tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt (optional)

1 tsp. any type of prepared mustard

1-2 tbsp. tahini (optional)*

ground black pepper, to taste

paprika

Preheat oven to 350.

Cook macaroni in a pot of boiling water, according to package

directions. While it is cooking, combine the remaining ingredients

(except paprika) in Vita Mix. Blend until very smooth and creamy.

Combine macaroni and sauce in a oiled or sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle

lightly with paprika and bake in oven until bubbly, about 15-20

minutes.

*The tahini adds fat but increases the creaminess and cheesiness.

NOTE: Different styles of canned tomatoes give this dish different

flavors. For a spicier recipe, use tomatoes with jalapenos. For a very

spicy dish, use salsa instead of diced tomatoes.