Macaroni and Four Cheeses

I got this recipe from Eat Smart with Ellie Krieger. It's a little cookbook magazine thing from Fine Cooking. Anyway, it's a healthier version of Mac and Cheese and it was super easy and pretty tasty. Since it's a healthier version it doesn't use as much cheese - next time I make it I might throw in a bit more.
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Cooking spray
One 16-oz box elbow macaroni
Two 10-oz packages frozen pureed winter squash (yep - that's right!)
2 cups low fat milk
1 1/3 cups grated extra sharp cheddar cheese
2/3 cup grated Monterrey jack cheese
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tbsp plain dry bread crumbs
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp olive oil
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Preheat oven to 375. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

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Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
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Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk in a large saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until it is defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheddar, jack cheese, ricotta, salt, mustard and cayenne. Pour this mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine.
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Combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the macaroni and cheese. Bake until the cheeses are bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.
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Serves 8, serving size 2 cups.
Per serving:
390 calories
11 grams fat: 1 mono, .5 poly, and 6 saturated
18 grams protein
56 grams carbs
3.5 grams fiber
35 mg cholesterol
547 mg sodium
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*** I could not find frozen squash for the life of me! So I bought two butternut squash, cut them in half, and baked them until they were soft (about an hour). Then I scraped the pulp out and mashed it up. This worked great.

Herbed Cheese Pizza

We just had these personal pizzas for our Sunday lunch. I simmered the sauce and made the dough in the bread machine before church so it came together quickly after church. I never would have thought of putting paprika and cumin on a pizza but it was tasty! I couldn't find "hot paprika" so I used regular and then added some sprinkles of cayenne pepper. I also splurged and found the kasseri cheese. Sharp Parmesan could probably work in a pinch as a substitute if you can't find it.

Dough:

2 cups bread flour, divided
1 teaspoon sugar
2 packages dry yeast (about 4 1/2 teaspoons)
2 cups warm water (100° to 110°), divided
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
Cooking spray


Topping:
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon hot paprika
3/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, divided
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
10 ounce thinly sliced kasseri cheese
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley


To prepare dough, lightly spoon bread flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 1 cup bread flour, sugar, yeast, and 1 cup warm water in a bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Lightly spoon all-purpose flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup bread flour, and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Add yeast mixture, 1 cup warm water, and 2 teaspoons oil to flour mixture; stir well. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of remaining all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel tacky). Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; divide dough into 8 equal portions. Cover and let rest 20 minutes.


To prepare topping, combine oregano, cumin, paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; set aside. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic, bay leaf, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 15 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; discard bay leaf.


Preheat oven to 450°.


Working with one portion at a time (cover remaining dough to keep from drying), roll each portion into a 6-inch circle on a lightly floured surface; place circle on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining dough portions.


Top each crust with 1/4 cup tomato mixture, 1 1/4 ounces cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon oregano mixture. Bake at 450° for 12 minutes or until crusts are lightly browned. Sprinkle evenly with minced parsley.


Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 6-inch pizza)

CALORIES 434 (28% from fat); FAT 13.4g (sat 6.6g,mono 1.3g,poly 0.2g); IRON 5.6mg; CHOLESTEROL 35mg; CALCIUM 308mg; CARBOHYDRATE 62.6g; SODIUM 934mg; PROTEIN 19.7g; FIBER 4.6g


Cooking Light, APRIL 2002