Creamy Mac & Cheese - Light

I planned on making something with chicken again tonight, but during my lunch break at work today I was reading my new issue of Taste of Home and saw a super easy delicious looking Light Mac & Cheese and thought I had all the ingredients at home.  

I got home from work, raided my fridge/pantry.   I was excited to find I did have all the ingredients.  I couldn't wait to give this a try.

It's also really cold and snowing here, so what could be better on a day like today for dinner than comfort food....light style?  Nothing...so Mac & Cheese it is.  

Also on the plus side, I know my boys will LOVE this dinner.  

Serves 10 (so you will have leftovers or this would be great to bring to a party)

Ingredients:

1 package elbow macaroni

1/3 cup flour

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups light half & half

2 tbsp butter

2 cups Skim Milk

3 cups shredded mild cheddar

Reduced fat Ritz Crackers (for topping)

The ingredients are pictured below, so lets get started.  

Make your pasta according to the directions on the box.  Preheat your oven to 350 Degrees.

First shred the cheddar cheese with a cheese grater into a bowl, set aside when done.

Then mix together in another bowl, the flour, seasonings and Half & Half.  Whisk until mixed and bubbly.

Melt the butter in the saucepan.

Peek a Boo its my little helper!

Once the butter is melted, add your half and half mixture and the Skim Milk.  Stir together.

Once your sauce has a light bubble going, add in the shredded cheese.  Stir continuously until all the cheese is melted and the sauce has a creamy consistancy.

Check on your noodles to make sure they are cooked.  If they are, drain them and return them to the pot.

Time to pour the cheese sauce into the noodle pot and mix them together.  

After you have mixed your sauce with the noodles, get your 9x13 baking dish and spray it with cooking spray.

Pour your mac & cheese from the noodle pot into the baking dish.

Almost there, its looking really good now!

Crush some crackers (I used reduced fat Ritz) for the topping.  Stick it in the over and back for 25 minutes on 350 degrees.

Voila!!  Dinner is served, looks delicious doesn't it?

One happy boy, enjoying his dinner!  Success.

This was a really quick and low cost dinner.  I can usually get the pasta for $1 at my grocer (this box was a large one with 16 oz left over from another time so it was perfect), organic milk was on sale when I bought and I had a coupon, the cheese block was left over from a cheese tray I made during the holidays, as was the half and half (surprised at how long this stuff stays before it expires) and I always have salt, pepper, flour, garlic powder, butter.  

The cheese sauce was really creamy and the topping got crispy.  All of us enjoyed this dinner and I didn't feel too bad about eating it since it was a lighter version of our favorite comfort food.

For complete recipe details and variations for toppings and complete printable directions Click Here

Until next time, enjoy cooking!!