Baked Mac and Cheese

A "health-conscious" recipe using blended cottage cheese to bring a creamier consistency to this normally-rich dish.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 1 1/3 cups

Ingredients

• 4 1⁄2 cups  uncooked penne (tube-shaped pasta)
• 1 (12 ounce) carton  2% low fat cottage cheese
• 1⁄2 cup  finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1⁄2 cup  grated fresh parmesan cheese, divided
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
•  cooking spray
• 3  tablespoons panko breadcrumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1  tablespoon  minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; place in a large bowl.
3. Place cottage cheese in a food processor; process until smooth. Combine cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Add the cheese mixture to pasta, and stir well. Spoon mixture into an 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.
4. Combine remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan, panko, and parsley in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over pasta mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
5. Preheat broiler (do not remove dish from the oven).
6. Broil pasta 1 minute or until top browns.