All I want to do is bake, bake!

...when it looks like this outside....

...I want everything I eat to come hot out of the oven!

Which is why I've been baking like crazy. Casseroles, cakes, cookies, bread ...you name it!

I actually don't eat everything I bake, sometimes I just like the cooking part; being next to the hot stove is a plus.

So a few girlfriends asked if I would make them a 'healthy' mac and cheese. I made them a dish and the boyfriend one and they both asked for it again so I figured why not share it with you all! :)

Creamy 'green' Mac n' cheese with sun dried tomato & basil pesto.

What you will need:

-Plain yogurt

-Light or low fat feta cheese (I prefer goat, but this wasn't for me..)

-1 box Elbow macaroni (multigrain version)

-1 bunch collard greens (use any leafy green veg you like!)

-Olive oil

-Multigrain or whole wheat flour

-1 bag or small block parmesan cheese

-1 small white or yellow onion

-Garlic (whole or bottled)

-basil pesto (made mine from scratch)

-sundried tomato pesto (Giada's bottled version from Target)

Directions

1. In a medium-large saucepan with olive oil start by cooking 1 cup chopped onion and around 5 chopped cloves or 3 tbsp bottled garlic on medium heat until the onion is slightly golden. Start boiling your box of macaroni according to instructions.

2. While this is going on, start washing and chopping your greens into small pieces: Add approximately 4-5 cups chopped collared greens to the pan. (leafy part only!)

3. When the greens look soft and wilted add 1 1/2 cups of plain yogurt to the pan, 1 cup feta cheese, 3 tbsp of both pestos and 1/2 cup multigrain flour, mix it all very well. Simmer over lower heat until it starts to thicken, be sure to stir well. 

4. Add your cooked macaroni to your baking dish, poor the sauce over the macaroni coating it evenly. 

5. Last, but not least, mix your grated parmesan into the dish, leaving enough to cover the top. (I used about 3/4 of the bag)

6. Broil the macaroni on low for about 10-15 minutes or until it is a golden brown on top.

...and because I, yet again, cannot find my camera... (I've been moving) here is a picture of what it looked just like!

Extra tip:
For portion control try this recipe using a muffin dish, what a great idea!

Via Emily Bites

Hopefully I find my camera soon...I have some things to share with you all! p.s. If you try this let me know how you liked it!