Where the heck did the weekend go?? Seriously! It feels like just hours ago that I was at Woodfield chatting with Fancy! Oh well… sometimes the uneventful weekends are just what I need to feel refreshed for the week ahead.
planning is apparently key!
Yesterday, Adam and I tried something new… rather than blindly going to Woodmans and seeing what looked good, we did what a lot of people do: we made a list and shopped off that. We planned out 3 dinners for the 3 nights this week that we’re together, and one of those meals will make enough so that Adam can have leftovers after work on Thursday. Planning was oddly kind of difficult! Usually, I’ll see what looks good, or piques my interest (Chavrie gnocchi anyone?) and then cook off of what I have. This was like my “normal” in reverse… but we did well!
Tonight’s planned dinner was something I hadn’t made in a LONG time. In fact, it was THE FIRST recipe I made the FIRST week I cooked for myself while on Weight Watchers: Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes. My friend Meghan gave me the recipe, which originally called for full-fat everything, and said “You can easily lighten this up.” Lighten it up I did, and it was, well… eh. There’s something about the over-processed weirdness of fat free cheddar cheese and the nuttiness of whole wheat pasta that just made for a weird dish. Sure, I ate it, but I didn’t love it.
About a month later, I tried it again, this time with soy cheese. It tasted great… but lets just say it made for some unpleasantness later. The recipe got shoved to the back of my “archives” until I remembered it yesterday. I did some calculating and found that if I used reduced fat 2% cheese instead of weird fat free, and Ronzoni Smart Taste instead of whole wheat, it wouldn’t change the Points® value that much, and I figured it would taste better. I ran the idea past Adam, he seemed willing to try it, so we got the ingredients yesterday.
Now, let me tell you… I’m a HUGE macaroni and cheese fan. HUGE! Give me Kraft, Annie’s, Lean Cuisine, and of course Noodles & Company mac and cheese, and I’m a happy camper. Not that I don’t appreciate the great stuff that my coworkers make, or the gourmet stuff I had at a fancy restaurant, but really? Noodles and cheese are just a great combo. This recipe is NO EXCEPTION! It was super satisfying, and had the creaminess that many of the low-fat macaroni and cheese recipes lack.
Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes
(originally from Allrecipes.com)
8 servings, 7-Points® each, as calculated by the WW Recipe Builder
Ingredients
1 box Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta, cooked and kept hot
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 12-oz. can fat free evaporated milk
2 c. shredded 2% milk cheddar cheese
1 egg
1/4 c. panko bread crumbs
2 tsp. olive oil
1/8 tsp (or more) cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°. Place the halved tomatoes in a shallow pan, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the evaporated milk and cheese into the hot pasta in a pot over low heat. Stir constantly until the cheese is melted and the milk is reduced and thickened a bit. Crack the egg into the pot and stir until the sauce is thickened farther further even more. Add the cayenne, and more salt and pepper, and then remove the tomatoes from the oven. Stir the tomatoes into the macaroni, serve, top with panko, and enjoy!
Both Adam and I were quite thrilled with the results of the recipe makeover (from way caloric to pretty gross to super-delicious) and each had 2 bowls… and there’s still leftovers! I swear, I can’t cook for a small group.
To officially end the weekend, and get my week off to a good start, the amazing Rose at On A Lobster Placemat tagged me in the “Survey of 8s” so I’ll leave you with that today. Make sure to read to the end… you might be tagged next!
8 Things I’m Looking Forward To:
1. OUR WEDDING!!!!!
2. Camp starting in approximately 40 days
3. many of my close friends having babies
4. Farmers markets opening
5. Warm weather EVERY day
6. Cubs Games!
7. The end of the school year
8. eating dinner outside
8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Had lunch with Kristin
2. Got my nails done
3. ate entirely too much
4. got a cute top at Anthropologie (still a big deal for me!)
5. grocery shopped
6. cleaned a bit
7. bought some stuff to send to another blogger
8. Obsessively checked blog stats
8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Have a classroom with windows
2. get over my fear of the dentist
3. have a “normal” attitude about food
4. keep my house and desk organized
5. lose the rest of my weight that I need to lose to be healthy
6. win the lottery
7. sleep as much as I need every night
8. Be in multiple places at once (sorry Rose, I stole that one!)
8 Shows I Watch:
1. Grey’s Anatomy
2. Private Practice
3. Top Chef
4. ANTM (guilty pleasure)
5. Big Bang Theory
6. House
7. The Office
8. United States of Tara
8 People I Tag: (Hope these aren’t repeats!)
1. Healthy Twists
2. BranAppettit
3. Run Live and Enjoy
4. French Fries to Flax Seeds
5. Kristas Kravings
6. Hey, What’s For Dinner Mom?
7. Tales of Expansion
8. Raspberry Runner
So that’s me… in a nutshell. Wait, this is a very big nutshell! How do I get out of this nutshell? (anyone? anyone?) That was fun! Thanks Rose!
I’m starting a new feature hopefully tomorrow, (right Matt?) called “Guests for Dinner” where fellow bloggers and/or readers can send me pictures and recipes about what’s for dinner at their house! Did you make a particularly good dish or take an amazing photo? Send them my way at mara@imadedinner.net!
Off to relax… have a great night and a great Monday!
Mac & cheese is definitely one of my favorite comfort foods. This recipe sounds so good – I’ll have to bookmark it.
Your wedding website is so cute! I’m getting married in a little over a month, so it’s probably about time for me to update our website.
Lauren´s last blog post..Pizza, Fries, & Ice Cream – My Way
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Love the survey!!!! So exciting that your wedding is so close
VeggieGirl´s last blog post..Satisfying Reader Requests
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Can’t WAIT to try this! p.s. How did I miss that you were on the bridal train?! I am too. It’s awesome. Congratulations on your wedding!
Wiggs (The Beholder)´s last blog post..The Beholder Playlist – how to download!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
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Oh Mara – I loved looking over your wedding website! goodness you are one GORGEOUS girl – adam is so lucky!
Pearl´s last blog post..Almond Brittle
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Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Your wedding website is amazing.
I have to try the mac & cheese recipe as it combines my all time favorite ingredients: pasta, cheese & tomatoes.
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I’ve always loved antm, except the past few seasons just aren’t as good!!
Congrats on getting MARRIED!!! I’m sure you’re having so much fun with all of the wedding planning!!
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Oh I really like that list! What a great way to think about things.
Ruby´s last blog post..Weekly Blog?
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Macaroni and cheese is the favorite of everyone, a healthy version of it is so necessary!
So excited about your wedding!!!
coco´s last blog post..Day 7: ^____^
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sooo many thoughts.
you on the tv choices.
I love reading other peoples info when tagged (Im such an open book mine are boring) and yet I feel the need to now “lecture”
I have a few mustsees! you must see.
New Adventures of Old Christine? seen it?
MizFit´s last blog post..Personal First-Aid Kits (video post)
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such a great healthified version of the old classic! your wedding is SO SOON!!
mi´s last blog post..weekly favourites
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mmm, i love mac and cheese — way to make it healthier while still salvaging the taste!
thanks for the tag! i’ll do my survey this afternoon. i would like to win the lottery, too. please?
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)´s last blog post..I’m back …
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that looks DELISH! Thanks so much for sharing!
Shannon (The Daily Balance)´s last blog post..‘Make it’ Chicken Parmesan: Healthified! I promise, it’s true!
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I love tomatoes in macaroni and cheese!
No windows in your classroom. Oh that is awful! I hope you get that soon. Big Bang Theory is such an underrated and excllent show!
Hangry Pants´s last blog post..She Says: Buitoni and Button Mashing
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Mara, it sounds like you had a great weekend! My sister has told me about Woodman’s, I’ll have to check that out one day.
And the WW mac and cheese, I agree with you, I don’t do any fat free cheeses AT ALL! They are way gross. Plus, if you actually measure out 1 oz. of real cheese, its 2 pts, and it is surprisingly a lot!
Jenn@slim-shoppin.com´s last blog post..Jumbo Carrot Muffins
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That looks delish and i’ve never been a big fan of mac and cheese but the only kind of I’ve had has been out of the blue box maybe it’s time to give some REAL mac and cheese a try!
Danielle´s last blog post..Fun In The Sun
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You know, I’ve always been scared of making mac & cheese from scratch, but this recipe makes it look very do-able — and it looks great!
Spiceaholic´s last blog post..Bring on the bentos!
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I always do the make a list thing otherwise I’d end up with a bunch of stuff that doesn’t go together into meals. Sometimes though, if there is something on super awesome sale or that just catches me, I’ll get that too.
And that mac and cheese looks AWESOME.
Quix´s last blog post..Weekend Tidbits – The Race, The Ride, and The Ridiculous Feast
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Oooh, you tagged me eh? Hmmm…I’ll have to think about those before answering.
Marianne´s last blog post..Hamming It Up
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BETTER than the blue box?! Oh man, I’m definitely going to have to try these because that is quite a statement
Love your 8 things…I love Big Bang Theory too! Sheldon cracks me up.
Lara (Thinspired)´s last blog post..Running with Randomness
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Do you want to go to a Cubs game together this summer?! BLOGGER CUBS GAME – I’m thinking we could stay true to Nate’s “bucket” concept and order food in the realm of hot dogs and nachos
If you can’t cook for a small group, you can always feel free to send me your leftovers! Haha, kidding…kind of. But it always looks amazing!
I’m so going to check out your wedding site now!
eatingbender´s last blog post..25:42!!
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I am so going to try this! My kids reject each and every macaroni and cheese recipe I try, and the blue box irks me to no end.
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Gosh, I am afraid of the dentist too, and have been avoiding. It’s not good for me, I know it, and can effect everything from blood sugar to heart disease. Why don’t we make a pact to go “together” – ie in the same week?
My dentist is the super nicest woman AND her office is right next to where I work! There are no excuses really. Let’s do it.
Foodie McBody´s last blog post..Feedback from the Scale: It’s Just Information
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