Yesterday Owen turned four! We did the unthinkable and had about 18 three to four year olds over for a birthday party! It was crazy and complete chaos, but probably the most fun Owen has had in a while! In honor of the birthday boy, I thought I’d share his favorite dinner lately–Cheesy Mac & Toe. Pasta, diced tomatoes, and three kinds of cheese. The dinner of champions for my four year old. I kinda love it too.
Right after I graduated college I moved from Oregon to Utah and didn’t have a clue where I was going to live or work. One of my best friends who lived in Provo offered to let me move in with her and her husband for a couple of months or until I found a place. Or got a job and could afford a place. As I think back on it, it never felt awkward living with my married couple friends, but I have to wonder how they really felt about it. She was like a sister so I never really thought twice about it. Anyways, lucky for them it didn’t take long for me to get a job and move out. One of the most memorable times I have from living with them, is Tami’s famous Mac & Toe, as she called it. Because it was like mac and cheese, but with tomatoes. It was a staple for them and in the month or so that I lived there we ate it frequently. It was so plain and basic, but so good.
It’s been over seven years since then, and I’ve thought about that Mac & Toe plenty, but I just got around to making it a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if this is how she made it, but the concept is the same. Simple and delicious.
And all you really needed to know is that it only takes 15 minutes to make. ‘Nuff said, right? Give it a whirl.
- 3 cups uncooked whole wheat rotini pasta
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- Salt and pepper to taste
- basil for garnish
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, add pasta noodles and cook 'til al dente. Drain, and return pasta to the pot. Reduce heat to medium low. Stir in can of diced tomatoes and garlic salt. Add cheese and gently stir until melted and combined. Garnish with chopped basil and a little extra Parmesan cheese if you want!
- inspired by Tami Judd 🙂
Oh, great idea to add diced tomatoes to mac and cheese! Simple and delicious!
Thank you. Sounds really good to me.
This will be lunch this week! Do you drain the tomatoes?
No I didn’t drain the tomatoes! Hope you like!
I can’t wait to make this for my 2 daughters! I had a question about the mozzarella though. Do you use a block of mozzarella, a bag of pre-shredded mozzarella, or do you get one of those big balls of mozzarella that are kind of liquid-like and grate one of those? Thanks!