Cauliflower/macaroni cheese??

[Im a BusyBee]

Im making a cauliflower cheese for dinner tonight and was just wondering if i add some macaroni to the cauliflower do you think that would taste ok? I shall make a crunchy top of breadcrumbs mixed with grated cheese and was trying to make it a complete meal i can just serve with garlic bread. what do think?

[abstract]

what do i think.........im thinking of coming over yours for dinner! im a fan of cauliflower cheese,tho never had it with a crunchy breadcrumb top,have you got a certain way of doing it,otherwise im going to find a recipe and make it for breakfast! hahaha!

[heathfield]

Sounds yummy to me!

[Im a BusyBee]

so you think it'll be ok then abstract?....the topping is as i put on a tomato/bolognese pasta bake - good way of using up those crusts of bread that get left in the breadbin! I blitz em in blender rather than waste them and then just mix with grated cheese and sprinkle good covering over the top and bake til brown and crispy, no recipe and very simple! the breadcrumbs can be frozen if you dont need them at the time. Its the combination of macaroni and cauliflower im not sure about?

[abstract]

well im a ''if it aint broke donrt fix it'' kind of guy,but at the same time im adventurous and always up for new things,so id say make half with macaroni and half just cauliflower cheese! the best of both worlds!

[pastafreak]

It might be a bit bland looking.....why not add some more colourful veggies and up the pasta quantity......will be more like a veggie/pasta bake.......or you could even add some tinned beans such as chick peas or butter beans for added protein. Then it really would be a complete meal.

[terambulan]

Boil colourful pasta and bake separately with pinch of chilli-powder & lemon for a zing.

Think your way may end up looking like a dogs-dinner....dont mean to be rude, just my opinion when everything is mixed on a plate.

[abstract]

WOW! i just thought of this,why not sprinkle cooked minced beef/lamb on the cauliflower before adding the cheese/crunchy top, thats what im doing as soon as i get the ingrediants! im going to call it the abstract suprise!

[Im a BusyBee]

teram - i have fussy eaters in my household! and a husband that will choose NOT to eat pasta if i keep it separate. Im always trying to disguise different ingredients to keep everyone happy and also to ensure they all eat a balanced diet. Everyone likes the topping hence im trying to make it easier for me and disguise what i can within it. And pasta thats a good idea think i'll add sweetcorn and carrots too.

[ethandron]

sounds really good to me. after all, macaroni cheese looks pale and bland, as does cauliflower cheese, and both are very tasty. if you were a certain member of our household, you'd smother it in tomato sauce anyway and add your own colour! and the crunchy breadcrumb and cheese topping sound great.

[puddicat]

Sorry its not right mixing pasta and cauliflower it will taste strange and look bland,!!!

[Im a BusyBee]

Well it went down very well! The only thing was i obviously didnt disguise the pasta well enough as my husband picked it out, apart from that everyone had clean plates.

[tigerlily11]

Oh yes that works very well.
My favorite Italian cook book has that very combination in it.

[valerieb1254]

I like using both cauliflower and broccoli together in a cheese sauce,and I use Lancashire cheese instead of Cheddar.I'm drooling at the thought.

[tigerlily11]

Ssssshhhhh Val Your making me hungry.

[Jugglering]

BusyBee - I too have gotten a bit fed up of just having cauliflower in a cheese sauce, so I developed my own extra special recipe that has even carnivores coming back for more!

Lightly steam some cauliflower, broccoli, sugar snap peas, celery, etc etc (whatever veg you like). Saut� some onions, garlic, mushrooms, red peppers and a chilli or two in some olive oil and add a little garam masala and turmeric.

Make up a strong flavoured cheese sauce (using proper mature cheddars and others like smoked applewood, caerphilly, white stilton and whatever else you can get your hands on, eg parmesan), then add a teaspoon of french wholegrain mustard and mix well.

In a large pyrex baking dish, arrange the steamed veg and saut�d onions (which should now be a glorious golden colour) and pour over the cheese sauce. Pop into a preheated oven 200 deg C for half an hour or so until golden brown and serve up with simply boiled potatoes or mash..