Lighter Macaroni And Cheese

Total Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 6 small vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into 24 - 1/4 inch thick slices (3-inch)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs for sprinkling
• coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 5 slices bread, with crusts
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 2 cups chicken stock (homemade or low-sodium store-bought)
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated (abut 2 1/4 cups)
• 1 ounce parmesan cheese, freshly grated (about 1/2 cup)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 400°f spread tomatoes in a single layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets. drizzle each sheet with 1 tbsp oil; sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoons thyme, and season with salt and pepper. bake until tomatoes have softened, about 20 minutes. (leave oven on).
• 2 process bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. melt 1 tablespoons butter with remaining tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. add breadcrumbs, and toss to coat, season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• 3 bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta. cook pasta until almost al dente, about 5 minutes. drain and run under cold water to stop cooking. transfer to a large bowl; set aside.
• 4 whisk 1/2 cup stock into the flour in a medium bowl; set aside. melt remaining tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. stir in nutmeg, cayenne, remaining 1/2 tsp, thyme, and 1 teaspoons salt. add milk and remaining 1 1/2 cups stock. whisk in flour mixture. bring to a boil, whisking frequently. reduce to a simmer. cook 8 minutes, whisking frequently. add cheeses; cool, stirring until melted. pour over macaaroni, stirring to combine.
• 5 put eight 4 1/2 x 1 1/4 inch ramekins on a baking sheet, put 2 tomato slices in bottom of each ramekin, divide macaroni mixture evenly among ramekins. top each with a tomato slice. sprinkle with breadcrumbs and thyme sprigs. bake until bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes.