Weekly Health Tip: Three-Cheese Macaroni

Halloween is over. How many Snickers, Reeses, Milky Ways, or other chocolates did you enjoy? And Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I love this season, but sometimes it's so hard to eat nutritiously.

So as promised, we'll be posting some healthy Thanksgiving recipes each week. Here's a great one for Three-Cheese Macaroni, from FoodNetwork. It's tried and true - and delicious.

You will need:

• 1 large egg 
• 1 12oz can of evaporated whole milk
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/3 cups of grated muenster cheese (4oz)
• 4 deli-thin slices of muenster cheese (1oz)
• 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (2oz)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (1oz)
• 1/2 head cauliflower, cut into small florets (4 cups)
• 4 cups of medium pasta shells (9 ounces)

Directions:

1. Whisk the egg, evaporated milk, cayenne, nutmeg, and salt and black pepper to taste in a bowl. Toss the grated cheeses in a separate bowl.
    
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook until almost falling apart, about 7 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Add the pasta to the same water and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Preheat the broiler.
    
3. Combine the egg mixture and the grated cheeses in the empty pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheeses melt and the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and add the cauliflower. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth and light (you can also use a regular blender). Stir in some of the reserved pasta water until creamy.
    
4. Toss the pasta in the sauce; season with salt and black pepper. Transfer to a shallow casserole dish and top with muenster slices. Broil until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

Per serving (about 1 1/3 cups): Calories 403; Fat 17 g (Saturated 10 g); Cholesterol 85 mg; Sodium 517 mg; Carbohydrate 41 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 20 g