Baked Mac and Cheese with Spinach and Roasted Tomato

If I had to choose something to eat as my last meal, a rich, creamy, decadent baked Mac and cheese would definitely be on my dinner plate somewhere ( along with a blue cheese buttered steak, mashed potatoes, some ravioli, some chocolate cake…yes, I would gladly go out stuffing my face.) I came up with this Mac and cheese by combining a few different recipes. With a super creamy sauce, crispy crumb topping, and that zing of roasted tomato flavor, it definitely tops my list of favorite things to eat.

Here’s what you’ll need:
4 tomatoes, sliced
Olive oil
3 large handfuls fresh spinach
1 lb penne, cooked in salted water and drained
2 tsp Salt
2 tsp pepper
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
2 c milk
2 c heavy cream
3 1/2 c cheddar
1 1/2 c Parmesan
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp Italian seasoning, divided
Crumb topping : 1c panko bread crumbs, 1/2c grated parm cheese, 1 tbsp olive oil

Start with your tomatoes:
Slice them, toss them with the a good drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of pepper,lay them out on a parchment covered sheet pan and put into the oven for about 30 minutes.

Next, heat butter in a deep sauté pan.

Add flour, whisk and cook for a few minutes.
Add in your cream and milk, whisking for a few minutes until mixture becomes thickened and bubbly ( it won’t be super thick, just thicker than when you started)

Now, remove pan from the heat and add in 2tsp salt, 2 tsp pepper, Dijon, 1tsp italian seasoning and cheeses, stir to combine into a melty, gooey, sauce from heaven.

Add your pasta to the pan and combine

Pour pasta and cheese sauce into your baking dish

Stir in spinach leaves

Top with roasted tomatoes

Now, combine the ingredients for the crumb topping

Sprinkle on top of the tomato layer and bake for about 30 minutes…

Until it is brown on top and the cheese sauce has become bubbly perfection

Serve this on its own, with a green salad, or as a side dish, yum!
Find the printable version of this recipe HERE Or.. CLick on the recipe below and you can print this lil’ notebook version

Bon Appetit!

Check out the folks over at http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/ and see what they have cooking!