Sweet Potato Mac 'n Cheese

This recipe combines two great comfort foods: Sweet Potatoes and Macaroni and Cheese!  I know it sounds a little crazy, but trust me on this one!  If you have a picky eater at home, this is a great way to add something ridiculously healthy (sweet potato) into something that everyone loves (mac 'n cheese).  Adding the sweet potato allows you to use less cheese while adding tons of flavor and nutrients.  I use whole grain pasta, fat free 1/2 and 1/2, no butter and you would NEVER know it!  However, feel free to use regular pasta and regular 1/2 and 1/2 if thats what you have on hand.  Add cooked diced or shredded chicken, browned italian sausage or ground beef or a bit of bacon to make this a one dish meal!  Great as a side or a main dish.  Give this one a try - its good for you!

Ingredients:

- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1" cubes

- 2 cups whole wheat pasta, I used rotini

- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced

- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 1/2 T olive oil

- 1 1/2 T flour

- 2/3 c chicken stock

- 1/2 c half and half, I use fat-free 

- 1/4 tea cayenne pepper

- 1/4 tea nutmeg

- 1 T dijon mustard

- 1/2 tea sugar

- 4 oz shredded cheese of your choice (cheddar or something similar works best)

- S&P to taste

For the Topping:

- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

- 1/4 shredded parmesan cheese

- 1 tea olive oil

- small pinch S&P

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 400° F.  Lightly coat an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.

2.  In a medium saucepan, place the cubed sweet potato and fill with water until ~1" over the potato. Cook on the stove over medium-high heat until sweet potato is fork tender, ~10 minutes after it starts to boil.  

3.  Remove sweet potato from boiling water and place into a bowl.  With the back of a fork or a potato masher, mash the sweet potato until well mashed and almost smooth.

4.  In the pan you used to cook the sweet potato, cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the box instructions (you will probably have to add water and bring to a boil before adding pasta).  Drain pasta and rinse with cold water, reserving 1/4 c. pasta water.  Set both the pasta and pasta water to the side.

5.  While the pasta is cooking, in a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and saute until onion is tender and translucent, ~5 mins.  Stir in the garlic and saute for an additional 2-3 minutes.  

6.  Whisk in flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, whisking frequently.  The mixture will look very dry but its supposed to.  Gradually whisk in chicken stock, 1/2 and 1/2 and water, constantly whisking.  Bring this mixture to a simmer and cook until sauce thickens, ~5 minutes.

7.  Stir in the cayenne pepper, nutmeg, mustard sugar and mashed sweet potato and whisk until well combined.  Add in the cheese and whisk until cheese is melted and mix thoroughly.

8.  Add in the cooked pasta and pasta water and stir until evenly coated in sauce.  Pour mixture into greased baking dish.

9.  In a small bowl, combine all topping ingredients and mix until olive oil is evenly distributed.  Sprinkle mixture evenly over Mac 'n Cheese.

10.  Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until Mac 'n Cheese is bubbling and topping is slightly browned.  If the topping starts to get too brown, cover dish with aluminum foil and continue baking.  Let sit for 10-15 minutes prior to serving.