Mac and Cheese vs. Red Pepper Mostaccioli

Quick and Easy Mac and Cheese

1 box Farfalle Pasta

1/2 stick butter

1/2 chopped Onion

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups cheese (Mozzarella & Parmesan)

Ground Mustard, Parsley, Salt, Pepper

Red Pepper (Optional)

-Recipe-

Boil pasta until Tender

Saute Onions in Olive Oil while pasta boils in Pan

Drain Pasta when tender

Melt butter in pot and add onions

Add pasta and mix

Add milk and cheese (stir to combine)

Add seasonings and mix

Serve

*Carbohydrates, Vegetables, Calcium*

Healthy Alterations:

• An easy way to make the dish healthier is to switch to whole brain pasta to ensure your body with the nutrients that come from wheat
• White flour/bread/pasta has nutrients removed through the milling process
• Don't be afraid to add more vegetables/fruit in a way to add more vitamins and diversity the dish.
• Some Chives, Tomatoes, Red Pepper would all be good ways to add more vegetables and fruit
• Use a block of cheese and shred it yourself instead of using a pre-shredded cheese which contains preservatives

Red Pepper Mostaccioli

1 box whole grain Mostaccioli Pasta

1 lb Turkey Italian Sausage

1 garlic clove, Basil, Oregano, Majoram

1 Red Pepper

1 large tomato
Sauce Recipe

Asiago and Mozzarella Cheese

-Recipe-

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Boil pasta until Tender

Sauce Recipe

Add Chopped Red Peppers,

 when cooking vegetables for the sauce

Brown Italian Sausage with garlic and seasonings

Layer sauce and pasta in a casserole pan

Add vegetables and meat, then mix

Top with shredded cheese

*Carbohydrates, Protein, Fruit, Vegetables, Calcium*

3 Good Choices:

• Whole grain Pasta ensures your body is receiving the nutrients you need from the grain group of the food pyramid. 
• The turkey Italian Sausage is a lean meat, and not a red meat, which is a way to cut fat in your diet. Not to mention the stories on the news lately about red meat possibly being linked to cancer. It's an easy switch that might make a world of difference.
• The added tomatoes and red peppers add a lot of fruit that most dinner plates are missing. It is important to expose your body to all food groups in order to receive all the vitamins your body needs. Fruits contains natural sugar for your body which are far healthier than loading your body with unhealthy artificial sugar.
  

The Mac and Cheese meal is a quick and easy recipe that takes me just as long as a box of name brand powdered cheese in a box! If it's a busy day and I'm low on a time, I know this recipe is something that will satisfy my younger sister. Especially a night when her friends are over, it is nice to whip up a tasty recipe that seems difficult, but took about fifteen minutes. All of her friends love it and claim it's their favorite mac and cheese, and then they still have time to enjoy a home cooked meal and make it to the football game on time! As for the Red Pepper Mostaccioli, Mostaccioli is a favorite food of my little sister ever since she was a kid. She's a soccer player so carbs play a major part of her diet, but I wanted to make it a bit healthier. I ended up taking my own advice from previous posts and making easy switches just like that at the grocery store. To give her energy, I added the whole grain pasta and fruit to give her natural energy and sugar that worked great for her state cup tournaments. I was also scared about the red meat epidemic brought up on the news, and I look forward to eating more white meat in my diet.

Please let us know in the comments or on social media if you try our dish! We will like and share!

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