Baked shell and cheese pasta

Preparation time : 5 mins + time to boil pasta
Cooking time : 40 mins
Complexity : Medium
Servings : 5

Ingredients :

• Pasta- shell or macaroni - 8 oz
• Broccoli florets - 8 oz
• Onion, chopped finely - 1/6 cup
• Vegetarian broth - 1/3 cup
• All purpose flour - 1/6 cup
• Salt - 1 tsp or according to taste
• Black pepper powder - 1 tsp
• Bread crumbs - 1/6 cup
• Butter - 1 tbsp
• Cheddar, sharp (fat free or reduced fat) - 5 oz
• Parmesan cheese, grated - 1 1/2 tbsp
• Fat free or skim milk - 1 1/2 cup

Method :

Cook pasta according to package direction with salt. 

Meanwhile steam broccoli florets and put them aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Put a large and heavy pan on medium heat and melt butter. Add onion and cook for 2 mins, add flour and cook until it turns a little brown. 

Add milk and vegetable broth and stir it to mix well, raising heat to medium-high until it comes to boil. Cook until the sauce becomes smooth and thick. Put salt and pepper.

Once the sauce is thick, take it out from heat and add cheddar cheese and mix well until cheese is melted. Add more salt and pepper as per ones taste, add cooked pasta and broccoli and mix well.

Grease two 8" baking sheets with vegetable oil or butter. Pour cooked pasta with sauce into baking dishes. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. 

Bake for 15-20 mins, then broil for another minute or two. Bakes pasta is ready. Serve it hot. Enjoy.