I’ve had numerous emails today from the contest judge at NuVal regarding one of my entries (requesting bio info etc.) … But don’t get TOO excited! Winnings aren’t huge — t-shirt, goody basket, write up kind of thing. … it’s probably actually a combo entry. Tabby wrote the original SW Mac and Cheese Recipe … This contest was actually about making recipes healthier — featuring a system called NuVal. This is actually a pretty cool thing … it ranks products for “healthiness” based on a scale of 1-100 with the higher the number, the healthier.
Tabby LOVES those feel good ingredients (butter; fat; cheese … etc.) Her recipe was really tasty … but a lot of her ingredients were pretty easy to sub out! Here is the email I sent to NuVal — see what you think about it! As a mom, I was SHOCKED with the difference by subbing out the Greek Yogurt (it’s in the Publix super markets!) for the heavy whipping cream! Plus, the homemade Alfredo – vs Ragu – was huge!
Here’s the comparison email — see what you think!
I love this! Thank you! Do you happen to have a photo of the recipe that I can include? Also, would you be able to write a little bio about yourself? I’d like to include it with your recipe.
Tina
From: Angie Smith [mailto:ASmith@telarix.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 12:44 PM
To: Haupert, Tina
Subject: Recipe Contest Entry!
Please accept the following as an entry in your Trading Up Downtown Recipe Contest ( I have highlighted the ingredients to be “Traded Up”). Thanks for your help! Several items could be traded up for slight gains, but the whipped cream and Alfredo sauce improvements are HUGE!
Original Recipe:
Southwestern Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
8 oz. Elbow Macaroni (NuVal Score: 56)1 can diced drained tomatoes
8 oz Philadelphia cream cheese (NuVal Score: 23)
1 ½ cups cubed Velveeta cheese (NuVal Score: 22)3 Tbs butter
½ cup Hood Heavy Whipping Cream (NuVal Score: 3)¾ tsp pepper
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
(optional-add in a diced green pepper or can of drained corn with sauce for an extra southwestern kick)
½-1 cup shredded cheese to top mac and cheese
1 package of cooked and crumbled Oscar Meyer Smoked Bacon to top pasta (NuVal Score: 7)
¼ cup Ragu Alfredo sauce (NuVal Score: 23)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepare the pasta according to directions.
In a large pot combine Velveeta cheese, cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, butter, tomatoes, Alfredo, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir on low heat until all cheese is melted. Then drain the pasta and add it to the cheese sauce. Mix well.
Then pour the Mac and cheese into a large baking dish. Top with shredded cheese and bacon crumbles. Bake for 20 minutes on 375 or until cheese is melted.
“Traded Up Recipe”
Southwestern Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
8 oz Barilla Plus Elbows (NuVal score: 91)1 can diced drained tomatoes
8 oz Philadelphia Fat Free cream cheese (NuVal Score: 28)
1 ½ cups Kraft Fat-Free American cheese (NuVal Score: 26)3 Tbs butter
½ cup Chobani Plain 0% Greek Yogurt (NuVal Score: 94)¾ tsp pepper
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
(optional-add in a diced green pepper or can of drained corn with sauce for an extra southwestern kick)
½-1 cup shredded cheese to top mac and cheese
1 package of cooked and crumbled Butterball Turkey Bacon to top pasta (NuVal score: 20)¼ cup Homemade Alfredo Sauce (Ingredients for Full recipe below)
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 cup + 4Tbsp Carnation powdered milk (NuVal Score: 91)
½ cup Nonfat Milk (NuVal Score: 91)
2 Tbsp butter – melted (NuVal Score: 2)
1/4 cup butter (NuVal Score: 2)
2 Tbsp King Arthur All Purpose Flour (NuVal Score: 67)
3/4 cup fresh Kraft grated parmesan cheese (NuVal Score: 20)1/2 tsp garlic salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepare the pasta according to directions.
To create homemade Alfredo sauce:
Mix powdered milk and warm water together. Add milk and 2 Tbsp butter. In a small pan, heat mixture together. Beat well, cool, and store in the refrigerator.
Melt ¼ cup butter in medium saucepan; stir in 2 Tbsp flour to make a roux; cook until bubbly. Gradually whisk milk mixture into the roux; cook sauce over medium heat, stirring, until bubbly.
Reduce heat; add parmesan cheese and garlic salt; stir until melted.
In a large pot combine American cheese, cream cheese, yogurt, butter, tomatoes, homemade Alfredo sauce, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir on low heat until all cheese is melted. Then drain the pasta and add it to the cheese sauce. Mix well.
Then pour the Mac and cheese into a large baking dish. Top with shredded cheese and bacon crumbles. Bake for 20 minutes on 375 or until cheese is melted.
