Appenzeller Mac and Cheese

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 16 ounces shell pasta
• 3 cups chopped cauliflower florets (chopped into 1-1 ½ inch pieces) 
• 2 cups whole milk 
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt 
• ½ tsp black pepper 
• ½ cup unsalted butter 
• ½ cup all purpose flour 
• 2 ½ cups grated Appenzeller cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
2. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Set aside. 
3. In a large pot, add water and heat until boiling. Add macaroni and cauliflower and cook for 6 minutes, or until macaroni is tender. Drain and set aside. 
4. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together milk, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Set aside. 
5. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk to combine.  Slowly add milk and whisk until smooth.  
6. Continue to whisk frequently until mixture thickens and begin to boil. 
7. Remove saucepan from heat and add Appenzeller cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. 
8. In a large mixing bowl, stir together cheese mixture with pasta and cauliflower mixture. Transfer to greased baking dish. 
9. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until edges begin to bubble. 

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Mac and Cheese is a dish that kids and grownups love. This take on the classic mac and cheese from our friends at Cooking Light adds ground beef and fire roasted tomatoes to the mix for a heartier take on this comforting dish. What’s even better is you can grate or finely dice some vegetables into the mac and cheese for picky eaters!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

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

2. Heat a large skillet over medium. Add beef, onion, Worcestershire, and mustard; cook, stirring often, until meat is done, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in tomatoes.

3. Whisk together milk and flour. Pour mixture into skillet; bring to a boil over high. Add cheeses; stir until cheeses melt. Remove from heat. Stir in pasta and meat mixture. Top with parsley, salt, and pepper.

Tips & Trick:

• Make sure to drain the tomatoes so the sauce doesn’t get too thin.
• If you don’t have dry mustard (used here for added depth), stir in a teaspoon of Dijon mustard.
• Serve with a side of green beans or broccoli tossed with browned butter, or with a salad the family enjoys (a crunchy romaine Caesar salad would be great).

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

You’ve likely herd of grass-fed beef, but have you heard of grass-fed butter? Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is made from the milk of cows who spend 10 out of 12 months each year grazing in Irish pastures, and the difference is in the taste: rich and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. While cooking with Kerrygold butter can enhance the flavor of any sweet or savory dish, be sure to try it on a simple slice of bread or cracker to get the full experience. Your kids are sure to love a slice of healthful, whole grain bread with Kerrygold on top!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

This butter is the best! Makes my bread taste extra yummy and sweet.

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Kerrygold butter is richer, sweeter, and creamier than many other brands on the market. It’s perfect for any recipe that calls for butter, and my kids agree that cookies made with Kerrygold are the best! While it’s great for cooking and baking, it’s also a great way to get my kids to eat their fiber and whole grains– I just slather some Kerrygold on a slice of whole grain bread and they can’t get enough.

Flavorful Features:

Kerrygold butter is available in salted, unsalted, reduced fat, garlic & herb, and butter with canola oil.

The Icing on the Cake:

Kerrygold sources their milk from small, family farms that do not treat their cows with hormones or antibiotics. Grass-fed butter has been shown to contain more omega-3’s, beta-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and Vitamin D than traditional butter.

Time to Eat?!

Any time you use your traditional butter. Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is especially delicious on toast in the morning or a slice of whole grain bread with dinner.

Check out these family-friendly recipes featuring Kerrygold products!

Cheese and Tomato Macaroni with Broccoli

Crispy Potato Rosti

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Getting a homemade dinner on the table every night is hard enough – when you add picky eaters to the equation, it can be even trickier. Luckily, Our friends at Cooking Light have put together a list of Superfast Kid-Friendly Recipes that will let you have a healthful dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes that all your kids will love. With these recipes, dinner won’t be a battle against the clock and finicky taste buds!

Broccoli Mac and Cheese

What kids doesn’t love mac and cheese? Step outside the boxed, prepackaged stuff and cook up this quick and tasty version with a healthful twist!

Beef and Broccoli Bowl

Skip the Chinese takeout and make this vegetable-packed Beef and Broccoli Bowl instead! You’re family is sure to love this dish that comes together in a snap.

Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs are a childhood favorite, but can take all day to make. Refrigerated pasta and links of sweet Italian sausage provide a quick start to this Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs recipe.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Indulge on the go with the ultimate comfort food- Horizon’s Organic Classic Mac! Made with real Horizon organic cheese and pasta, their portable pot of gold is perfect for busy families! Their perfectly portioned cups take only three minutes in the microwave, so there’s no need to worry about overcooking, constant watching and stirring, or cookware to clean. Moms are happy because they’ve saved time and energy, and kids are happy because their bellies are full with a favorite dish: mac and cheese!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

This mac and cheese is so creamy and the cup it comes in fits right in my hand!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Horizon’s Organic Classic Mac microwaveable cups make sneaking a little extra nutrition into my family’s diet easy, without them even realizing it! I can feel good about giving them Horizon’s mac and cheese knowing it contains complete proteins that are essential for growth and development, along with being a good source of calcium. Who would have thought a microwaveable meal could be THIS good?!

Flavorful Features:

Among their vast array of food products, Horizon also features an entire line of Macaroni & Cheese flavors that are sure to keep you and your little ones satisfied:

• Pasta Cows & Mild Cheddar Cheese
• Macaroni & Mild Cheddar Cheese
• Pasta Shells & White Cheddar Cheese
• Gluten-Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese
• Macaroni & Mild Cheddar Cheese (Certified Organic)
• Pasta Shells & White Cheddar Cheese (Certified Organic)
• Macaroni & Mild Cheddar Cheese Super Mac (12 g of protein per serving)
  

The Icing on the Cake:

All Horizon Mac & Cheese is made with REAL organic cheese and pasta, is GMO-free, and contains no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavorings, colors, or preservatives!

Mix it Up!

Add beans, cooked ground turkey, or shredded rotisserie chicken for an extra boost of protein in your Horizon Macaroni and Cheese! Stir in your favorite bite sized cooked veggies.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.