“I cheddar the world and the feta cheese. Everybody’s looking for Stilton!”

It’s no shocker that I am in love with cheese. Piave, Humbold Fog, Manchengo, Brie… and the list goes on. It’s the best relationship I’ve ever been in and since cheese rarely talks back, it’s a match made in heaven! Like fine wines, I am a connoisseur of good cheese and the stinkier, the better! In Chicago, I lived across from Pastoral Artisan Cheese and Wine and let’s just say they knew me by name there. It felt like an episode of Cheers when I would walk in!

Hard cheese, soft cheese, gooey cheese; whatever you’re slicing up, I’m trying. I am very allergic to cow’s milk but I live on the edge at times and deal with the consequences later (hours in the bathroom, fun!) but for the sake of cheese! I love a good Sheep’s cheese and if you’ve never had cheese from Ewe’s milk, you don’t know what you’re missing! This weekend, I’m going to take Andy to this new cheese shop in SLO called Fromagerie Sophie that I heard has high-end and hard to find cheeses. Also, my student Christine has her art hanging up in said shop so check it out!

When I was in college at URI, I lived on Top Ramen and Mac n’ Cheese. We won’t talk about the weight I gained on that diet even with the exercise regime I followed! Who doesn’t love Kraft’s Mac n’ Cheese? Well, now that I know there’s more than 35 ingredients in it (the same as a hamburger from Burger King) I don’t think I’ll be eating it again… EVER! So what’s a girl to do when she’s craving some of this deliciousness? Create a recipe with faux cheese and make it way cleaner than anything packaged in a box!

I often use Go Veggie! Cheese when cooking and I hardly notice a difference in taste. I do however, feel the difference in my belly! I feel lighter, and I don’t have that puffy feeling from dairy-overload. This Cauliflower Mac n’ Cheese is simple and completely dairy free. I used Almond Milk, another wonderful way to shed calories, and whole wheat Cellentari pasta, my favorite noodle by far. Mangia!

Cauliflower and Broccoli Macaroni n’ Faux Cheese- serves 4 to 6 people 

Ingredients:

-1 head cauliflower, chopped

-1 broccoli floret

-1 red onion

-3 cloves garlic, minced

-1 cup almond milk

-1 T olive oil

-Go! Veggie Cheese, 7 oz. bag, cheddar flavored

-1 T dijon mustard

-1 T bread crumbs or panko

-salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Chop up the veggies.

2. In a large pot, cook the macaroni first.

3. In a sauté pan with the olive oil, heat the onions and garlic until they are brown then add the cauliflower and broccoli. Add the mustard and stir well.

4. When the macaroni is cooked, add it to the pan too with the almond milk and stir well.

5. Then add the cheese. Save a little bit for the top! Stir well.

6. In a baking dish, pour the macaroni n’ faux cheese in and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Take some bread crumbs and sprinkle over the cheese so the top with be crunchy.

7. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until sides are browning and cheese is bubbling! Enjoy!

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I’m planning dinner for tonight as I write, but I’m going to take a short break to read and enjoy a cup of tea. I’m onto Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, a story about life, death and hope in a Mumbai under city. I’m obsessed with all things India so this novel is right up my alley! Oh! And if you like short stories, I read two fantastic books last weekend- In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddn and Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. I’ve read everything Jhumpa has written now!

 I’ll be back tomorrow with Almond Butter Granola, check back! Or better yet, hit the SUBSCRIBE button and get an automatic email send to you! Easy peesy!