Comfort Meals: Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Ever get a craving for one of those boxed macaroni and cheese dinners, you know the ones that come with a package of cheese sauce right in the box. Since becoming gluten free I miss the convenience that those types of dinners bring. In 15 minutes you can have dinner ready from start to finish which is a good thing when you come home from work late and want something fast. Now things need to be made from scratch, making sure you have all the right ingredients on hand. This usually takes more time than those convenience dinners took, but the efforts are usually way worth it.

Tonight was one of those nights.

I came home with nothing in the fridge, starving and looking for comfort food.

I decided to make a macaroni and cheese dinner that was as simple and quick as the boxed versions.

Easy Broccoli Pasta and Cheese Dinner for Two

Step One: Boil 1 1/2 cups of gluten free noodles. Any short cut gluten free noodle will do. I love MolinodiFerro La Veneziane corn pasta. It tastes just like wheat pasta and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Today I used the "gnocchi" which look like shells. Defrost 2 cups of frozen broccoli in microwave for 5 minutes. While pasta is cooking shred 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1 cup of a really sharp extra old cheddar cheese and set aside.

Step Two: When cooked to desired taste drain pasta and broccoli.

Step Three: Add 2 Tbsp of butter to the pot you cooked the pasta in, once melted add 1 1/2 Tbsp of a gluten free all purpose flour mix. Whisk until the flour is incorporated and cook until it starts to smell like shortbread baking. Add 1 cup of milk slowly while whisking continuously (add 1/2 cup more milk if you like a thinner sauce, 1 cup if you like a thick cheese sauce). Cook whisking continuously until it thickens. Add freshly ground pepper to taste and a very small pinch of onion powder for seasoning. When sauce is thick, whisk in shredded cheeses.

Step Four: Add drained pasta and broccoli to cheese sauce and heat until broccoli is hot. Serve immediately. Makes two servings.

Start to finish this dish took no time at all. You can make it faster by cooking the sauce in a different sauce pan at the same time as boiling the pasta and defrosting the broccoli, but I wanted to make a one pot dish that would make cleanup easier. Of course like any dish you make yourself the additions can be what ever you like. I used broccoli as that was what I had on hand and it goes nicely with the cheese sauce. You could add a chopped tomato and turn the cheese sauce into a rose sauce. The possibilities are endless.