Roasted Broccoli Mac and Cheese

If there was one food I could eat over and over again, it would absolutely have to be pasta, specifically mac and cheese. There is something so delicious and comforting about a cheesy baked pasta dish. The savory, cheesy, texture from the pasta combined with the roasted, charred broccoli literally sends my tastebuds on a flavorful journey, one that I could embark everyday. I know how important it is to get vegetables in daily, and by adding broccoli to this dish, it incorporates the best of both worlds. *cue Hannah Montana*

Broccoli mac and cheese is obviously not a new invention, but I do know that most of the recipes I've read call for steaming or blanching the broccoli, not necessarily roasting. One of my favorite ways to prep broccoli is by roasting, so I thought how bad could it be to add it to macaroni and cheese? MINDBLOWN. Not only does this dish amp up a fan favorite of broccoli, but it adds another layer of texture and flavor. Macaroni and cheese in and of itself is insanely delicious, so making this roasted broccoli mac and cheese version was simply perfection. Plus, the first time I ever made it (and shared with the world on IG), I was being admitted into labor and delivery to give birth to my son, so I have a special bond with this dish regardless of how tasty it is.

Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients:

• Pasta: any kind will do, I used shells here and I was super happy with them. I will say, short pasta like fusilli, shells, and of course macaroni will work best.
• Shallot: minced and sautéed adds amazing flavor.
• Roux: a roux is a mixture of butter and flour, whisked together to form a thick paste-like consistency. This aids in thickening a sauce or in this case, a cheese sauce.
• Cream or milk: a key ingredient in making the cheese sauce for the mac and cheese
• Stock: helps make the cheese sauce
• Cheese: it wouldn't be mac and cheese with cheese! Sharp or mild cheddar works perfectly here, or feel free to branch out to other varieties!

Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese Tips:

• Cook the pasta a few minutes less than what the box or package suggests, you'll be baking the pasta so it will cook a little more as it bakes. Nothing tastes as bad as overcooked and chewy pasta.
• If the cheese sauce gets a little goopy and not as "saucy," add in more stock and continue whisking. It'll thin out!
• Add in as much or as little of broccoli as you want! We added in a little over a cup in this dish, but sometimes we add in more. It all depends on how much of the vegetable you want in there.

As the new year begins to unfold, we are always more aware of what we eat, how much we eat, and I say ditch the mindset of dieting and restricting yourself. Enjoy the cake, eat the pasta, and incorporate health when you can and need! Who says life needs to be boring? NO ONE. Make this mac and cheese and indulge to your heart's desire.