Festive FunGuy Mac and Cheese with Spinach and Cranberries

‘Tis the season of indulgence but there’s no reason to only delight in an abundance of cookies, cakes, and chocolate! Savory bites are also on the menu with this seasonal macaroni and cheese made from scratch.

Loaded with slices of meaty FunGuy mushrooms, dark green spinach, tart dried red cranberries, and a few handfuls of sharp cheddar cheese and you have the perfect dish to satisfy any holiday comfort food cravings.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove and add the macaroni pasta. Cook 7-9 minutes or until cooked through. Drain the pasta of excess water. 
2. Return the pot used to cook the pasta to the burner and melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and FunGuy mushrooms to the butter and saute them for about 4-5 minutes. Transfer about 2 tablespoons of the mushrooms to a small bowl and set them aside. 
3. Preheat the broiler in the oven and set the rack to the highest setting possible that allows enough room for a dish to fit without touching. 
4. Once the garlic and mushrooms have cooked, whisk in the flour to create a thick paste. Allow it to cook 1-2 minutes or until it smells lightly nutty. Pour in the milk, whisking the entire time. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring frequently. Stir in the cheese and allow it to melt. After the cheese has melted add in the macaroni and stir well to combine. 
5. Stir the chopped spinach and cranberries into the macaroni noodles and turn off the burner. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as desired and stir again. 
6. Spoon the macaroni into a casserole dish or into individual ramekins and add the reserved mushrooms on top along with the rest of the shredded cheese. Put the dish into the oven and allow it to cook 2-3 minutes or until the cheese has melted and become lightly browned. 
7. Remove the macaroni from the oven and allow it to cool 5 minutes before serving. 

Have a Fun Festive meal!