Healthy Bite: Homemade Cheese and Macaroni

My Healthy version of Homemade Cheese and Mac.

The brand of veggie "bouillon"
It's excellent

Every Saturday I gather my family together at 4pm to do cleaning for Sunday prep. While the kids are doing their various chores I fix dinner. Homemade cheese and macaroni is quickly becoming our traditional Saturday dinner. In an attempt to make our diet more healthy I've been figuring tricks to make certain recipes more figure friendly. For this recipe instead of using a whole 1/2 cup of butter I use 1/4 cup of butter and a 1/4 cup of olive oil. Instead of using all milk I substitute 1/2 with veggie stock. I wasn't quite sure what my family was going to react to the new recipe. I didn't tell them what I did differently and just served it as is. You can definitely taste the veggie stock, but adds a lot of flavor. To my relief it was a huge hit!! I will be making this way from now on. Only on special occasions will I do the full fat version. Plus I spread the sauce over two pounds of pasta instead of one which reduces the amount of calories as well.

Special Cheese Sauce

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup flour
1 cup veggie stock
1 cup 1% Milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp powdered mustard
1/4 tsp paprika

1. Melt butter and olive oil in a sauce pan
2. Add flour and cook for about 3 minutes to cook off flour taste
3. Add veggie stock and milk all at once and whisk till thickened. This can take up to 8 minutes. You might also find that you need to add more milk. You don't want it super thick.
4. Remove from heat and add the cheese.
5. After the cheese has melted add the spices. Pour over pasta

This sauce is also good over broccoli or cauliflower.

PIZZA BUNS

Top your pizza how you like.
Here I omitted the sauce, added cheese pepperoni and olive.
Roll up just like you would cinnamon rolls.

Cut the roll with a serrated knife about an inch thick.
Place each roll on well greased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.
Enjoy with pizza sauce. My family loves ranch dressing.

Every single Friday I make pizza for my family. Sometimes we watch movies, and sometimes we don't. Now that the kids are getting older they like to have lateovers with their friends. Without fail, I will make pizza. My family doesn't like to think outside of the box when it comes to their beloved pizza. They like pepperoni and cheese and sometimes olives. Me, I like to mix it up a lot and end up eating my "gourmet" pizza by myself. Although Jaren loves to try my new creations most of the time. My sister suggested I make these pizza scrolls. I re-named them Pizza Buns due to the fact that they look so much like cinnamon rolls, or sticky buns.

I know, a lot of you would like my pizza dough recipe so here it is. You have to realize that I NEVER measure this recipe out. It's in my head. I learned it from my Mother who went on her mission to Italy. It took me several years to perfect it and it turns out every single time. You just need to make sure that your yeast and flour are fresh.

1. 2 cups medium hot water. It can't be too hot or you'll kill the yeast. Warm enough to where you can still hold your finger under the faucet. To that add 2 Tablespoons active dry yeast and 2 tablespoons sugar. Give it a couple turns with a spoon and let the yeast work it's magic. It should begin to grow and bubble up.

2. Meanwhile; In a large bowl dump 3 cups flour. You can do all white flour or you can do half wheat. Add 2-3 tsp salt. Mix together with a fork to make sure the salt is well incorporated with the flour.

3. Dump all at once the yeast into the flour. Here's where you go by texture and feel of the dough. Mix the yeast into the flour with a large spoon. If it seems dry, add a little more warm water. If it seem too wet add a little bit more flour. Dump out onto a well floured surface and knead till it's well combined and smooth. You might have to keep adding flour as you go until the dough no longer stick to your hands.

4. You can let the dough rise till it's doubled in size or you can proceed to make your pizza. Either way it works well.