Mac and Not Cheese

As I listen to the rain outside, I think of how comforting it is having a warm meal on a cold wet day.

The kids thermos food jar’s are getting lots of use for lunches at the moment, and I have finally ordered some more for the younger children.

It allows me to send the children to school and kindy with lunches such as spaghetti and meatballs, casseroles, soups, nachos with corn chips…

Tomorrow they are taking my version of Macaroni Cheese – only this one is gluten and dairy free, has added veges, and tastes fantastic!

I like to make this in a big batch, and then freeze what is left in silicone muffin cups.  Once frozen I transfer to a freezer bag, ready for another lunch.

Mac and Not Cheese – Gluten and Dairy Free

Ingredients:

• 250g gluten-free pasta (buckwheat, quinoa or brown rice pasta)
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• 3 T extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 T rice flour
• 2 c rice or nut milk
• 2 T nutritional yeast
• 1 T tahini
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• pinch sea salt
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• chopped cooked bacon or ham (optional)
• gluten-free breadcrumbs and fresh chopped herbs (optional)

Method:

1. Bring 2 1/2 litres of water to the boil and cook the pasta till al dente
2. Meanwhile steam the broccoli and cauliflower
3. While the pasta and veges are cooking heat 3T oil in a saucepan.
4. Add the garlic and onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softening.
5. Using a whisk, mix in the rice flour to make a roux.
6. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously, and keep whisking until thickening.
7. Add the nutritional yeast, tahini, mustard, salt and turmeric and mix well.
8. When the veges are cooked cut up small to make the texture less noticeable for children
9. Mix the cooked pasta, veges and sauce together, along with bacon or ham if using, and serve (or put into preheated thermos food jars for school lunches).
10. Optionally you can put this into ramekins, top with gluten-free breadcrumbs and herbs mixed in a little olive oil, and put in the oven for 10 mins or unto breadcrumbs toasted.

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