Mac & Cheese {Healthy & Delicious}

A good friend of mine recently gave me this recipe for Healthy and Delicious Mac & Cheese!  We absolutely LOVED it!  Not only is it better for you than most macaroni & cheeses, it tastes SO SO SO good too!

Healthy and Delicious Mac & Cheese

• 1/4 c red onion, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, peeled & chopped
• 1/4 c. Arborio Rice (the stuff you use to make risotto)
• 4 c. chicken stock
• 1 c. grated cheddar cheese
• 6 c cooked macaroni noodles
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Place onion, carrots, rice and chicken stock in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.  Boil for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  When rice is very tender, cool just slightly and place in blender.  Puree and add cheese.  Continue pureeing until smooth.  Add salt and puree to mix in.  Pour sauce over cooked macaroni in a large bowl and mix well.

**I have tried adding 2 cups of cheddar cheese instead of 1 cup and we also like it this way.

**Want an easy alternative to boxed Macaroni & Cheese?  When I make this recipe, I cut the noodles in half & only use half the sauce.  I freeze the remaining sauce for a later date.  {Half is about 2 cups).  When I am ready to use the frozen sauce, all I have to do is warm up the sauce in the microwave & cook the noodles….so fast & easy!  Plus, I feel better about feeding my kids this version of macaroni & cheese over the boxed version!

Enjoy!