MAC AND CHEESE ITALIAN STYLE

First course - Pasta entree -Vegetarian - Gluten intolerant safe (READ notes below)

1 lb Italian penne pasta
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup milk, warm
1 tbsp 00 flour
2 tbsp Italian extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup mozzarella, chopped
1/4 cup asiago, chopped
1/4 cup provolone, chopped
1/4 cup parmigiano, grated
1 envelope Italian saffron
1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
Salt

Bring a large pot of water to boil, add salt and vegetables. When water boils again (frozen peas will drop water temperature), add pasta.

In the meantime prepare your sauce.

In a saucepan over medium heat warm olive oil and stir in flour, cooking for 1-2 minutes, then pour warm milk, in a thin stream, stirring; cook until it thickens, stirring contantly to prevent sticking.

When thick, remove from heat, stir in saffron and all cheeses, until they melt; keep warm.

Drain pasta with veggies and toss with cheese sauce.

Serve immediately, sprinkled with parsley.

Serves 4-6

- Italian saffron is much tastier than all other saffron. It will give a nice golden color to your sauce and a nice light "exotic" taste.
- Cooking vegetable with your pasta will allow it to absorb some nutrients lost in water by the veggies.
- You can use a high quality Italian whole wheat pasta, if you like it (our Tomasello is great for that, I used half whole wheat and half normal penne, which cook in the same time).
- For gluten intolerant and allergic people: use corn or potato starch to prepare your sauce (same quantity as flour) and use Italian corn pasta, made with only Italian corn flour which is GMO free.