Mac and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes for your Toddler

Feeding your toddler what the rest of the family is eating is often a tougher hurdle for parents to get over than it actually is for the baby. 

But remember, your child is ready and technically has been eating more tender, plainer versions of adult food for a while now. It’s important not to label food as “adult food” or “kid food” because it creates connotations for your toddler of what he should or shouldn’t eat. Your little one will try almost all foods right now, so this is a perfect age to offer dishes and foods the rest of the family is eating.

Ingredients:

• 8 plum tomatoes (about 2 pounds), cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices;
• 1 tablespoon olive oil;
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme;
• 3/4 teaspoon salt;
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced;
• 1 pound uncooked multigrain whole-wheat elbow macaroni;
• 2.25 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1/2 cup);
• 5 cups 1% low-fat milk;
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded extrasharp white cheddar cheese;
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fontina cheese;
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper;
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup dry breadcrumb.

Preparation:

•  Preheat oven to 400°.
•  Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and coat foil with cooking spray. Arrange tomato slices in a single layer on baking sheet. Drizzle oil over tomatoes. Sprinkle with thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and garlic. Bake at 400° for 35 minutes or until tomatoes start to dry out.
•  Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well.
•  Place flour in a large Dutch oven; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add cheddar, fontina, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Stir in tomatoes and pasta. Spoon into a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine grated Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs; sprinkle over pasta mixture. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

For baby: Omit black pepper. Serve spoonfuls in a small bowl. Cut the tomatoes and macaroni, if needed, into bite-sized pieces.

Make some family photos at the table. Write whether the family members liked the recipe.