In honor of National Pasta Day (this Wednesday, October 17th), the folks at Omega Juicers have provided a few “not-so-ordinary” pumpkin recipe for you to try at home. The Omega Nutrition Center not only creates delicious fruit and vegetable juices, but it is also capable of making a variety of foods including nut butters, salsas, baby food, and pasta! Celebrate National Pasta Day AND pumpkin eating season with Pumpkin Mac and Cheese.
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe
(photo courtesy of Omega Juicers)
16 oz elbow macaroni (or any other fun shape works too!)
• 4 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp flour
• 4 cups milk
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 oz yellow American cheese (packaged it fine, just break into small pieces for easy blending)
• ¾ cup pumpkin puree (1/2 15-oz can)
• 1.5 tsp minced fresh rosemary
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ¾ cup panko style breadcrumbs
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
3. In a heavy saucepot over medium high heat, melt the butter and add the flour. Whisk together and cook for thirty seconds. Add 2 cups milk, minced rosemary, and thyme and whisk until smooth. Add another cup of the milk (reserving one cup) and continue to whisk. Cook for approximately 5 minutes while whisking. The mixture will begin to get very thick!
4. Add the cheese and stir well so that the cheese melts evenly. Add the salt, pepper and cayenne followed by the additional cup of milk and the pumpkin puree.
5. Once everything is smooth, add the cooked macaroni and toss to coat. Pour into a 9x13 casserole pan and top with breadcrumbs.
6. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
Yield: 8 servings
