Mac and Cheese

I am not a food blogger, forgive the "meh" picture and understand the AWESOMENESS that is what I am going to share with you.

I am not a flaky person, generally. I am a list maker to keep me from being a flake. Sometimes, while at the store, I have a moment when I questions my list, thinking I forgot something I am sure we needed. I toss the item in the cart only to find 3 more like it when I come home. Sigh. I should trust the list.

This is what happened with cottage cheese. What does one do with 4 containers of cottage cheese, especially when one daughter is dairy free and one loudly announces that she no longer likes cottage cheese? Mac and cheese, baby.

Home made mac and cheese doesn't make the list of "diet foods" or "healthy foods" but seems to be right at the top of the "comfort food" category. But it is generally a lot of work. If I can come up with a recipe that is healthy, low cost and yummy it is the dinner trifecta. MMMMMMmmmm. This one totally counts.

I am not a recipe follower, but let me tell you how I made this tasty dish.

-Empty half a pack (8 or so oz) of dry pasta into a dish, a 8 x 8 would be nice and full. I had shells. Any small noodle would work.

-Dump in most of a 1 pound container of small curd cottage cheese, choose low fat/non fat if your being healthy. Add about 1/2 cup of milk (skim, if you must) and about 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese. I had sharp Cheddar on hand so that is what I used. Stir it all up. Salt and pepper to taste

-Cover dish tightly with foil and place in 350 degree oven for about 30 min. Check your noodles to see if they are soft. If so, pull out of the oven and top with bread crumbs mixed with butter and seasoning. Return to oven until crumbs are a little crisp, maybe 10 minutes.

-ENJOY!

This is so easy and so fast and very yummy. Doctor it up with ground beef or ham and peas and you have a whole meal. Serve with a salad and try to save some for tomorrows lunch, makes great left overs :) Pretty sure it would work in the crock pot but I haven't tried it yet.