Vegetarian Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Home baked mac and cheese with a little zing for those of us sick and tired of the boxed mac and cheese the kids seem to like so much.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  cups cauliflower
• 10 -12  ounces pasta
• 1⁄2 cup onion
• 5  tablespoons butter
• 5  tablespoons flour
• 2  cups milk (can use non-fat)
• 1  teaspoon garlic powder
• 1  teaspoon mustard powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon chili powder (optional)
• 1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese or 1⁄2 cup asiago cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375•.
2. Cook Pasta as per directions on the package. While pasta is cooking, chop cauliflower into ¼ - ½“ pieces, place in a steamer and steam until just tender. Set aside. Sauté the onion in olive oil until translucent. Set those with the cauliflower.
3. Drain the pasta and put into a large baking dish. Add the cauliflower and onions, mix all of it together.
4. To make sauce, melt butter in a sauce pan on low heat. Add flour to melted butter. Warm the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute, then add it to the flour and butter mixture. Turn heat for saucepan to medium high and stir constantly until sauce thickens. Should be about 4-5 minutes. When sauce is thick, turn heat down to very low and add cheese, garlic powder, mustard powder, salt and chili powder (if using). Stir until it is smooth.
5. Pour the sauce over the pasta, cauliflower and onion. Mix together until well blended. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top, then sprinkle the parmesan over that.
6. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.