Vegetable Mac & Cheese...Minus the Mac

YUM to Mac and cheese only subsituting the 'mac' for 'veggies'.  Ummm..... "Veggies & Cheese" just doesn't have a good ring to it....ideas?  Name beside the point, this dish was delicious and packed full of good healthy stuff.  TONS of veggies, lowfat cheeses, what could be better?  It's super filling, the husband and I (who both love to eat...) could only eat one bowl.  I couldn't even finish mine which is a miracle!  (Thanks Body By Vi!)

Confession: I forgot to take pictures of all my steps....I suck......  sorry!  :-/

I adapted this from a recipe I found online but I like mine way better.  And let me just state here, on record, if you aren't ready to give up pasta, do halfsies!  Half pasta, half veggies...  It still ups your healthy quotient greatly.

Here's what's going down:

1 yam

2 medium red potatoes

Slice these, toss with a little olive oil and roast in the oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet.  400 degrees for about 20 minutes until they're about 3/4 cooked through; just a little hard in the middle still

Slice and prep these while the potatoes are roasting:

1 head broccoli

1/2 head cauliflour

3 medium-large carrots, pealed and sliced diagonally about 1/4" thick

1/2 cup frozen peas (no prep necessary besides cutting open the bag.)

Boil a large pot of salted water.  Add carrots and boil for 4 minutes.  Add broccoli and cauliflower and boil for an additional 2 minutes.  When finished, strain veggies and remove pan from heat.

While your water is coming to a boil.....

Whip up in a blender or food processor:

3/4 cup cottage cheese

1 package light cream cheese

1/2 cup hot water from boiling veggies

 1 Tbs. dijon mustard

1/4 tsp Tabasco or other hot sauce, or more to taste

salt and pepper to taste

You will also need about 2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheddar, and 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan for the top.

When veggies are cooked and potatoes are roasted, add all to the empty saucepan; stove should be turned off!  Cover with cheese sauce from the blender and mix well.  Stir in shredded motzerella and cheddar cheeses.  Place all in a greased 13 x 9 baking dish.  Sprinkle with shredded parmesean.  Bake at 400 for about 30 minutes until top is golden brown.  Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes to thicken before eating.  Eat with crusty bread of choice!

Husband approved, even full of veggies and containing no meat....

Enjoy!

KDH.