Veggie Macaroni and Cheese

The whole family loves macaroni and cheese, and this version is great for getting more vegetables into kids who tend to be picky.

Use whatever vegetables are in season, although the cauliflower is a must. Broccoli is also very nice, although it wasn't in season when i made the recipe below, so I used zucchini to compensate for a green vegetable.

Ingredients

• 250g pasta, short pasta is best
• 2 leeks, trimmed and finely sliced
• 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, steamed and quite soft
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 cup pumpkin pieces, cut in small cubes then roasted (for better flavour) or steamed
• 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
• 3/4 cups milk
• 1 1/5 tbsp flour
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar is good, regular cow cheese is fine)
• Salt
• Pepper

Directions

1. Cook pasta until soft, set aside and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. (Instead of the pasta water, you can also reserve some of the water used to steam your veggies)
2. Heat butter in a large skillet on medium heat.
3. Add leeks and cook 2-3 minutes. Then add mushrooms, cook another 3 minutes. Add zucchini and cook 2 minutes. 
4. Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and butter in the pan. let sit for about 20 seconds then using a spatula, scrape it up and stir it around the pan for another minute or so. This is to ensure the flour cooks and doesn't leave a 'floury' taste.
5. Turn the heat down and add the milk, whisking it in and scraping the bottom of the pan to make a gooey vegetable paste. Turn heat to low. 
6. Add the cauliflower and stir it into the sauce, mushing it a little with a fork. Add other cooked veggies here too including the pumpkin, if using.
7. If the sauce looks too thick, add some of the reserved water, a little at a time. 
8. Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese, further thickening the sauce. Again, add little bits of reserved water (or more milk) to thin sauce to your liking. 
9. Season with salt & pepper.
10. Stir in the pasta to coat and heat.
11. Serve with a nice green salad, or cucumber and carrot sticks.