Growing up, I remember always asking my mom if I could add the cheese when she would make macaroni and cheese for dinner.
The simple joy of adding the cheese to mac and cheese hasn’t left me in adulthood. I still get a kick out of adding the cheese and stirring it into the warm pasta, coating the noodles in creamy cheese.
It still gives me a surprising amount of joy!
For dinner this evening, I started with a base of Annie’s macaroni and cheese and doctored it up a bit to add more vegetables and protein to the dish.
First, I steamed a bag of cauliflower in the microwave before smashing the florets with a fork.
I wanted the cauliflower to simply absorb the cheese sauce and add to the creaminess of the dish, so I figured that by mashing the florets they would blend into the macaroni and cheese without being too chunky.
I also added spinach and two al fresco roasted pepper and asiago chicken sausages to the macaroni and cheese before serving it up!
The mashed cauliflower added so much to the dish!
It absorbed the salty, cheesy flavor perfectly and made each bite taste rich and indulgent.
Off to read The Book Thief and call it a night!
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Perfect Monday night dinner! Fast, healthy, and delish! Gonna have to try this out soon…
Oh my gosh, mashing the cauliflower is brilliant, that looks so good!
You have the best easy recipes, you are seriously a lifesaver! I just made whole grain pasta with veggies and al fresco sausage, inspired by you! And now I’ll add this mac and cheese dish to the rotation too!
I’ve never seen mashed cauliflower in macaroni! That sounds interesting!
That looks SOOO good! I always feel guilty making mac n’ cheese for dinner, but the way you’ve prepared it here makes it a lot more filling and healthy. Definitely going to give this a shot!
This looks divine. I’ve seen this macaroni and cheese at the grocery store, but is it any healthier? Or just more natural? Looks tasty.
I used to do the same thing with the cheese packet! It was always my job 🙂 That’s such a simple idea with the cauliflower – I am definitely going to try that.
Oh my gosh I loved that macaroni and cheese as a kid! So good. The cauliflower addition sounds amazing, I’ll have to try that soon.
This sounds so delicious to me right now. I may try to make omething much like it tomorrow. Thanks 🙂
Just decided to boil some pasta and make mac+cheese for lunch at the office tomorrow! Perfect 🙂
just started reading a few days ago & loving it. this kind of recipe is right up my alley. i would like to know your thoughts on how much healthier (if at all) Annie’s mac&cheese is. I have a few boxes in my pantry, i will definitely have less guilt eating them this way! thanks!!
Love this idea … I’ll definitely be using it at some point. My husband loves mac and cheese!
Brilliant idea to add mashed cauliflower. Brilliant!
I made mac & cheese with cauliflower the other week & I loved it!
I just bought a box of that exact same mac’n’cheese yesterday–I planned to add spinach, chicken, and garlic, but maybe i’ll have to add some cauliflower too–great idea!
Holy moly! That’s what I call a bowl of comfort 🙂 looks delicious!
WOW I want to try this pronto! Looks so good
Annie’s White Cheddar Shells are our favorite! I usually serve it over spinach (using the wilting trick!), with sautéed onions, peppers and sometimes beans, then top it with fresh tomatoes. Such a comfort meal for me.
Mac and cheese use to be my go to meal as a child. I remember my mom would buy the Kraft Mac and Cheese that was shaped into little figurines, yum!
Such a great idea! I love Annie’s mac n’ cheese, but when I follow the recipe the sauce is always too runny. One day I improvised and used greek yogurt and milk instead and it was WONDERFUL! Great flavor and just the right sauce consistency. I’ve never though about other mix-ins, so I’ll be trying out your recipe soon enough.
Ohhh the cauliflower addition is such a fantastic idea! That looks outrageously good to me right now. Definitely trying soon!
What a simple and smart Idea I’ll bet my family will love it!
Oooh I have a pasta idea now!! Thank you 🙂 I have some cauliflower in the fridge that I have yet to prepare.
mmmm that sounds delish! AND I have all the ingredients on hand!
What a delicious looking dish!
I love Annie’s mac-n-cheese. They were on sale at Target and my husband picked up about 20 boxes! Sweet. 🙂
I use a little milk and greek yogurt to get an awesome tangy cheese sauce 🙂
Looks like a great dinner! I love adding cauliflower or broccoli to cheesey flavoured dishes.
Good idea adding the cauliflower!
That is such a creative way to spruce up plain Mac and cheese.
I love your idea of adding mashed cauliflower. I’ve added pumpkin and squash to boxed mac and cheese but this is another great variation.
Plus, those chicken sausages look delicious. Is that a new flavor?
As a kid I HATED mac n’ cheese (what kind of kid was I?!?!) but LOVED stirring in the cheese. My sisters and I would fight over who got to squeeze in the velveeta packet and I always lost because I wasn’t actually going to eat it.
I love Mac and Cheese. What a great way to Doctor them up
Looks delicious julie!
We’re 3 girls in my family… We would ALWAYS fight over who gets to add the cheese 😉
That is a great idea to add to macaroni and cheese! Yum!
That’s a great idea! My fiance hates the texture of cauliflower, but I’m sure he’d like it mashed…and with mac and cheese!
Yuum! Looks delicious!! I used to always ask mom if
I could stir in the cheese….so fun! haha
I had something similar last night.. try this!
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-303-504-13847-0,00.html
That looks tasty! I am definitely going to need to pick up some al fresco sausages soon!
I love Annie’s macaroni and cheese but I always have my veggies on the side. Why haven’t I ever thought of adding them? Thanks for the great idea!
Ooo, you are so smart! I will definitely have to try this. Did you use your fancy spinach wilting trick again?
I am on the waiting list for the Book Thief at the library. They better hurry up!
you better believe i did!! 🙂
I love the addition of the cauliflower. I may have to give this a try with my veggie-hating boyfriend lol
Love this…so smart and simple! I’m gonna try your spinach wilting trick today with some pasta and chicken sausage for some added protein as well! I love how your dinners are nutritious but seem to come together so quickly and easily, which is exactly what you need on a weekday night!
That looks delicious!!! Can’t wait to try a combo with that chicken sausage. One of my favorites is Annie’s, canned french cut green beans, and tuna sprinkled with bread crumbs
great idea I love this!
What a great idea! This is definitely a good way to get my hubby to eat cauliflower. Cheese and sausage help everything.
Do you ever add exra cheese your Annie’s mac n’ cheese? I added a large pinch of the new shredded cheese that has a touch of Philadelphia Cream Cheese in it and OMG…so good.
that sounds incredible!