Guilt-Free Comfort Food: Low-Fat Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

With all the talk these days about gluten-free, low carb, healthy eating, I couldn’t help but get nostalgic for the good ole days of Grandma’s home-cooked comfort food. Yummy dishes like meatloaf, mashed potatoes, banana pudding, and one of my childhood favorites – homemade macaroni & cheese. I’m not talking about that boxed stuff made by a company whose name starts with a “K” either. I mean REAL mac & cheese. The kind that comes in a casserole dish, cheese bubbling on top as you take it out of the oven. My mouth waters just conjuring the image!

My dilemma lies in the fact that I really want to eat healthfully, yet I don’t want to deprive myself of the sensory experiences that go along with comfort food. My solution? I found this incredible recipe for guilt-free low-fat macaroni & cheese that uses whole wheat flour, skim milk, and reduced-fat cheese, yet retains all of the yumminess of the original. Of course, I have to share, so here’s how it’s done:

Guilt-Free Comfort Food: Low-Fat Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 C. macaroni, cooked and drained
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 10 slices, 2/3 oz. each low-fat sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 12 oz. can evaporated skim milk
• 1/2 C. low sodium chicken broth
• 2 1/2 Tbs. whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 3 Tbs. bread crumbs
• 1 Tbs. margarine, softened

Directions

Spray a deep 2-quart casserole dish with vegetable cooking spray. Layer 1/3 of the macaroni, 1/2 an onion and 5 slices of cheese. Repeat layers, ending with last 1/3 of macaroni. Whisk milk, broth, flour, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and pepper until well blended. Pour over layers. Mix bread crumbs and margarine. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Makes 4 servings.

Do you have a favorite comfort food that you wish came in a guilt-free version? Have you ever bought any of your food from a vietnamese online shop?  Comment below and let’s compare notes!