Mac and Cheese with Tomatoes Recipe

No-added-salt    No-added-egg    Vegetarian

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 8 plum tomatoes (about 900 g) cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme
• 3/4 tsp salt, divided
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 450 g uncooked multigrain whole-wheat elbow macaroni
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded extra-sharp white cheddar cheese
• 1 cupshredded fontina cheese
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs

Stove or oven method:

Preheat oven to 200°C or 400 F.

Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and coat foil with cooking spray. Arrange tomato slices in a single layer on baking sheet. Drizzle oil on tomatoes. Sprinkle thyme, 1/4 tsp salt, and garlic. Bake at 200°C for 35 minutes or until tomatoes start to dry out.

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well.

Place flour in a large cooking pot; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add cheddar, fontina, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Stir in tomatoes and pasta.

Spoon into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine grated Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs and sprinkle over pasta mixture. Bake at 200°C or 400F for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Tips:

For baby: Omit black pepper. Serve spoonfuls in a small bowl. Cut the tomatoes and macaroni, if needed, into bite-sized pieces.

Milk and cheese make this recipe rich in calcium. You can also replace with milder cheddar cheese.​​