With sweet peas mac and cheese, there're no problems with eating veggies Let the kids decide which veggie they want in their cheesy pasta!
Homemade Creamy Mac and Cheese
OK, we all know that there's nothing yummmier than homemade creamy mac and cheese. And, no baking makes it even easier!
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Yes, this is stovetop mac and cheese. All done in one skillet. And, talk about creamy!
Stovetop Mac and Cheese Recipe
Now this mac and cheese recipe is totally kid-approved. What kid or big kid for that matter doesn't love pasta and cheese! And, as you can see, I love making this recipe with my grandchildren. They're totally invested because they know how yummy it's going to be!
Mac and Cheese with Vegetables
We're making this mac and cheese with vegetables. Not a 'lot' of veggies that compete and take over the party in the skillet. but just throwing in some extra nutrition.
And, this is an ultra creamy mac and cheese. When you drain the pasta, SAVE some of the water to use in the sauce if you need to make your sauce creamier.
Kid Friendly Mac and Cheese
To make your mac and cheese kid friendly, I suggest strongly that you involve the kid(s) in making this dish. Or at least, you lay out say three options for vegetables to put in with the mac and cheese, and let the kid decide. And, you have to stick with their choice.
Secret strategy here. You've stacked the deck with the three vegetables you've chosen, make sure at least one appeals to the kid, and maybe you can even get your child to adventure beyond the known veggies.
Kids Mac and Cheese
Like anything we're serving our children, we look for ways to make it healthier and more nutritious. With this recipe, adding the nutritional yeast and the peas gives a little boost attaboy or attagirl!
Kid Friendly Mac and Cheese with Veggies
Kids will eat veggies, well most of them. And, if they won't, well, we just disguise them as something else. Since these peas are slathered in the creamy cheese sauce, they're even tastier. Of course, peas have that sweet hint that kids love.
Kids Mac and Cheese Recipe
You could add other types of vegetables. I'm thinking some of the best to give your children choices are: diced zucchini, diced squash, some small broccoli or broccolini flowerets, how about chopped fresh spinach or brussels sprouts leave, and don't forget small bites of asparagus. And, if you've never tried cutting up sugar snap peas into pieces, then that's gonna be a fabulous choice, too!
If you want to throw in hot dog bites like in my kid hot dog cheesy macaroni or the pepperoni, then this does add great flavor!
Cavatappi Mac and Cheese Recipe
I love cavatappi pasta for mac and cheese. Because of its shape, it tends to 'hold' the cheese sauce. The word cavatappi means 'cork screw' in Italian and that's what these pasta bites look like. Little spirals of pasta!
Mac and Cheese with Peas
Now what type cheese or cheeses you choose to use is totally up to you. I love pepper jack, but kids might not like that kick of spice. However, if you do, then you must make my Jamaican Jerk Mac and Cheese. I mean I've won an award recognition at World Food Championships for this recipe!
Gruyere is classic because it melts much like a cheddar cheese does. But other options are gouda, parmesan, havarti, monterey Jack, muenster, and even brie, just remove that rind before melting.
And, if you can grate your own cheese, bonus. If not, and you're in a hurry, then no worries. One last thing about cheese, as a kid I grew up on Velvetta, and if you want to use that, then have at it! Same thing about pimento cheese, you could even throw some of that into the sauce.
Sweet Peas Mac and Cheese
Who doesn't love peas. I just can't imagine. For me, it's almost akin to not liking apple pie. Peas are a great sour of protein like other legumes. Eating them is a great way to get extra meat-free protein into your diet.
