Macaroni and Cheese: 30 Days, 30 Ways

     Macaroni and Cheese.  If it's on the menu, I will always order it.  I have five recipes for mac n' cheese, including one that's actually healthy and another one to make Panera-style gooey-goodness.

     And now, I have discovered the ultimate source for mac n' cheese recipes.  The "30 Days, 30 Ways" blog, sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.  It's a wonder that a board with such a name could have spawned such an awesome blog.  But it's true, this blog is mac n' cheese bliss.

     I've just discovered this blog tonight so I haven't made anything...yet.  The top three on my list are:

     1) Wisconsin Three Cheese Macaroni and Cheese: I had this for the first time last fall, at a restaurant called Noodles.  Fabulous meal. 

     2) Macaroni and Cheese With Red Pepper Volcano and Dinosaur Trees: This looks like it would be so cute and fun to serve at a kid's party!

     3) Black Truffle Mac n' Cheese: Black truffle butter in mac n' cheese = high-class pasta.  Who knew?  Never mind, it sounds divine.  

     Oh, and here's the link for the Panera-style Macaroni and Cheese.  It's from the blog, "Victory or Death In the Kitchen."  Last but not least, below is the recipe for the healthy mac n' cheese made in the slow cooker.  It's the mac n' cheese that's pictured above.

Macaroni and Cheddar Cheese
Created by Elaine Patton of West Middletown, PA
From "Fix- It and Forget- It Lightly: Healthy, Low Fat Recipes For Your Slow Cooker" by Phyllis Pellman Good
Makes 7 servings

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups fat-free or 2 % milk (I substituted vanilla soymilk)
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp kosher salt
ground black pepper to taste
3 cups shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
8-oz package of whole wheat macaroni, cooked al dente

Directions:

1) Combine all ingredients except for the macaroni in the slow cooker.

2) Cook on HIGH for one hour.

3) Add the macaroni.  Cook on HIGH for one more hour. 

Nutrition Information Per Serving:
Calories: 170, Total Fat: 4.5g, Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 400mg, Carbohydrates: 15g, Fiber: 0g*, Protein: 17g

*The original recipe is made with regular macaroni and I did not re-calculate the nutrition info to reflect the whole-wheat macaroni.