Purple Mac and Cheese

Having fun with vegetables can leave a positive effect on your little ones' eating habits. If they love purple, this is the recipe for you. Make sure not to disguise the fact that the mac and cheese has cauliflower. Show them how beautiful it is before cooking.

purple cauliflower

Purple Mac and Cheese

1 large purple cauliflower

½ cup butter spread (yogurt butter, olivo, etc.)

2 tsb. salt

¼ cup flour

¼ cup milk (any fat percent)

1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups macaroni

Directions

Chop and de-leaf cauliflower. Bring to a boil then remove cauliflower from boiling water. KEEP THE PURPLE WATER. Add salt and noodles to the purple water and continue to boil. 

Puree cauliflower in blender and set aside.

In a sauce pan over low heat, melt butter, add flour and stir with a wooden spoon to make a paste. Then add milk, salt, and stir in cheese. Simmer until it becomes a thick sauce and then slowly stir in the puree. The more puree you use, the deeper the shade of purple.  

When the noodles are cooked, drain them and top with the purple cauliflower-cheese sauce! And for extra fun, read the book Purplicious before bed.

For Moms on the Go - Purple Mac and Cheese - The Shorter Way

For those busier nights, prepare your favorite boxed macaroni and cheese (make sure it's white cheese, not orange) and add puree and twice the amount of butter. Important: remember to boil the macaroni in the purple tinted water from the cauliflower.