Culinary Basics: Using Ingredients To Revamp Recipes

I love Paula Deen’s recipes and her recipe for crock pot mac and cheese is to die for.

However, it might kill me if I keep making it. I am all about reducing the fat and the calories and creating healthy recipes on a daily basis.

Here is a comparison of 2 ways to make macaroni and cheese – each are equally delicious and satisfying. You have to decide for yourself which type of recipe fits into your specific diet.  And sometimes it's okay to have the really, really fattening one - and sometimes it's nice to make the not so bad one!

Makes 4-6 servings so roughly for 1/4 of this recipe

Calories 829

Total fat 53.8 g - 82%

Saturated fat- 32.4 g - 161%

Monounsaturated fat 15.2 g

Trans Fat 0.0 g

Cholesterol 299 mg - 99%

Sodium 1475 mg – 61%

Potassium 434 mg – 12%

Total Carbs –50.9 g – 16%

Dietary Fiber 2.4 g – 9%

Sugars 5.3 g

Protein – 35.5 g – 70%

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2-1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 10-3/4 ounce condensed cheddar cheese soup
• Salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• Pepper to taste

PREPARATION

1. Cook macaroni for 6 minutes. Drain.
2. Mix butter and cheese in saucepan. Over medium heat, stir until the cheese melts.
3. In slow cooker, combine the cheese mixture, the eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper. Add the drained macaroni and stir.
4. Cook on low for 2-1/2 hours – stir occasionally.

This is a fantastic mac and cheese!

Makes – 10 servings – 1 cup each

Calories 411 (31% from fat)

Fat 14g (saturated 6.9g, mono 2.9 g, poly 0.9)

Protein 22.8 g

Carbs 49.9 g

Fiber 4.7 g

Cholesterol 39 mg

Iron 2.5 mg

Sodium 638 mg

Calcium 414 mg

Years ago I came across this recipe and you can do the math and compare the recipes. As well as the traditional mac and cheese, it also has the benefit of tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 plum (Roma) tomatoes cut into 1/4-inch slices (about 2 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
• Salt if desired
• 4 garlic cloves, thin sliced
• 1 pound uncooked multi-grain elbow macaroni
• 1/2 cup flour
• 5 cups 1% low fat milk
• 1-1/2 shredded extra-sharp white cheddar cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Fontina cheese
• Pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 13 x 9 pan with cooking spray.
2. Cover a baking sheet with foil and spray with vegetable oil.
3. Arrange tomato slices in single layer – drizzle olive oil over tomatoes and sprinkle with thyme, salt if using and garlic.
4. Roast at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until tomatoes start to dry out.
5. Cook pasta according to package but eliminate salt and oil. Drain well.
6. Mix grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and paprika – set aside.
7. Place flour in Dutch oven and gradually add milk, whisking to mix well.
8. Cook over medium heat for 8 minutes or until thick and bubbling. Stir constantly with whisk. Add cheeses and pepper and continue stirring until cheese melts.
9. Remove from heat and add tomatoes and drained pasta.
10. Spoon into 13 x 9 baking prepared pan.
11. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, breadcrumb, paprika mixture over pasta.
12. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes until bubbling. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.

I actually have made both these recipes and here’s my idea on changing up ingredients - by the way, I love both of them!

PAULA DEEN’S MAC AND CHEESE

• Substitute wheat or other whole grain pasta – use penne or other small pasta
• Substitute margarine or butter-combo for butter
• Substitute low-fat, low-calorie cheese
• Substitute egg substitute for eggs
• Substitute Greek yogurt or non-fat sour cream
• Substitute Reduced Fat version for condensed cheddar cheese soup
• Substitute nonfat milk for whole milk
• Add roasted tomatoes!

COOKING LIGHT’S MAC AND CHEESE

• Substitute unbleached flour
• Substitute different herbs for thyme
• Substitute nonfat milk - it works
• Substitute low fat or partial-skim milk cheeses - it works
• Substitute part walnuts or other nuts for breadcrumbs
• Substitute browned panko for breadcrumbs
• Substitute whole-grain penne pasta or other small pasta for macaroni

In short, you can tune up any recipe or revamp them at will. I have never had a problem working with a basic recipe and seeing where it can take me. Hoping you will do the same!