It’s creamy and it’s gooey
Cheesy, rich, and oozey
It’s anything but ew-ey
My pumpkin mac and cheese 
p.s. I sang that to the tune of The Adamm’s Family theme song in my head.
Guys, dinner last night was so good! I was really apprehensive to make it a.) because I don’t cook, b.) because I didn’t really have a recipe to follow, and c.) because I can’t cook.
What inspired me to whip this up was Katharina’s butternut squash mac and cheese. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any butternut squash so I figured pumpkin might make a great substitution! I googled a bunch of pumpkin mac and cheese recipes, though all of them were for huge batches and necessitated ingredients that I didn’t have. So, I improvised.
pumpkin tuna mac and cheese for one
(adapted in some way from 90% of the links that showed up on google)
Ingredients
- 2 oz whole wheat pasta
- 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/2 cup milk of choice (I actually used vanilla almond breeze! It’s all I had, but I couldn’t taste it at all. Phew)
- 1/4 cup shredded cheese (I used mozzerella)
- heaping spoonful of cottage cheese (ricotta would probably be great too!)
- seasonings to taste (I used salt, pepper, dash, and cumin)
- tuna (or whatever source of protein you fancy)
Directions:
Mix together pumpkin and milk in a saucepan until smooth and creamy. Meanwhile, cook your pasta according to the directions. (Fun fact, you can cook pasta in the microwave and it works like a charm). Add cheese and cottage cheese to the pumpkin mixture and stir until the cheese is melted. Next, sprinkle in spices mix until they’re full incorporated. Finally, add the warm pasta and tuna, adding a little bit of leftover pasta water to thin as necessary.
Served with steam green beans and broccoli, veggie crumbles for more protein-age, salad with a glob of hummus a la Gabriella, and some crackers because carbs make me happy.
Maybe I can cook…
~~
Let’s start this Monday off on the right foot. Tell me, what’s one thing you’re looking forward to this week? My birthday, perhaps? 
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
This looks de-li-cious. Perfect for me to try really soon!
xxx
That look amazing, Jenny!! Woah…
I’ve never thought of adding pumpkin to macaroni cheese! One thing I’m looking forward to this week: Indian food night later this week!
Yummy! It sure looks to me that you can cook!
Niiiiice!
looks delicious! Its fun to create new dishes, and tis one looks amazing! Love the pumpkin in it ; )
Im looking forward to just having a beautiful week, every day I wake up I am thankful to be alive : )
Happy Almost Birthday!!!!
I love adding pumpkin to EVERYTHING!!! This looks delicous!
Mhm, pasta with pumpkin, awesome!
Have a great day!
Of course you can cook!
That looks fantastic!!!! I might put mine in a mini casserole dish, sprinkle it with some bread crumbs, and bake it. I love baked pasta dishes!
I’m looking forward to riding my horse! It’s been a while because of the weather
I hope you have an AMAZINGLY AWSOME birthday this week!
This looks great!!!! Mmmmmm!!!!
ahh you go girl… top chef material right here!
Oh my gaga…making this ASAP.
Shush you can TOTALLY cook! Iron Chefs, watch out. Jenny is comin’
This looks amazing! I love how you come up with such yummy creations!
Have a spectacular birthday week!
this looks amazing… and easy! like something i can make
YES I’m looking forward to your birthday- because it’s so close to mineeeee!! I have to say, this year you got lucky with the Friday bday thing. Next year I’ll have Friday, but then it will skip straight to Sunday and I’ll be jipped of Saturday. You get the two best birthday days in a row
that’s what she said
sorry I couldn’t help myself
I honestly said last night “i’m craving mac and cheese” (this was post-dinner). And now that you posted this recipe, this is what I’m looking forward to ONE night this week! Oh, and I’m going to visit my family this weekend…can’t wait!
I am looking forward to your birthday!!! Can’t wait to see how it gets celebrated
I love that you found some inspiration in that recipe! Actually! You may enjoy this pumpkin penne recipe: http://wanderingchopsticks.blogspot.com/2006/11/pumpkin-penne-ive-got-about-20-family.html
Check it out!
XO!! Much love you, beautiful
That looks and sounds a lot better than the Vegan Mac and Cheese I made:
http://gamereviewwiki.com/bikinibirthday/2011/01/21/vegan-mac-n-cheese/
Your meal looks so good (and really balanced!). I’m looking forward to just going through my day. I honestly look forward to everyday.
uhhh YUMMY!! and I actually sand your song after I read the addams fmaly part..ahaha.
i can see myself making this- id prolly swap out tuna for a bunch of broccoli or soemthing bc im not a fan of warm tuna, but still looks great!
i think anyone can cook, just gotta be creative! (which you certainly are!!)
hope your bday is good! mine just passed- went to panera bread, of course
Not only can you cook, Jenny, but you’re brilliant! Pumpkin MAC AND CHEESE? Who would’ve thought?
It must be all that wisdom from your 21(?) years of living
LOVE your meal- please start showing more of these. You obviously CAN cook!! Quick question- did you end up microwaving your pasta according to those e-how directions?
Yum–way to whip up an amazing dinner with great ingredients. Just let me know when you pursue being a personal chef..I have some peeps who would so hire you haha!
I love your little poem/song!!! It’s adorable!
One thing I am looking forward to this week is making your Tuna Mac and Cheese!
Yum!! I will have to try this.
Wow, that looks great! Love the little song…I’ll probably have it in my head all day now! I love adding pumpkin to recipes, but I’ve never tried mac ‘n cheese! Nice!
Genius! I’m trying this with tofu instead of tuna for sure, looks amazing!
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