Broccoli Pasta Bake
Yesterday was my first day at my new teaching job, and I love it!
Maybe this is just the thrill of doing something you love, or if it's the students who are surprisingly respectful and eager to learn.
But what they don't tell you is that you need to drink throughout the day. ... Water I mean! I was so dehydrated by the end of the day, I was getting a serious headache. But I am looking forward to the next week!
And since I will be sooo busy next week, I need quick and easy dinner ideas. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love for you to share. In case I get bored of pasta.
But while I am still loving all things pasta, here's a super simple and super quick dinner idea.
This will be my saving recipe when I am too busy to cook. In my college days, those days would result in a trip to McDonalds. I am hoping I will not need to resort to that this year.
Because... cheesy pasta!!! How can you go wrong? Seriously? I am bursting with love for pasta right now. I even ate pasta for breakfast the other day. I mean, why not, right?
I think this will be my life. Make pasta, lesson plan, eat more pasta as a delicious awesome snack and lesson plan some more. Repeat if necessary. I will obviously throw some Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches in there (because, who are we kidding? I'm not giving those up) but it will be pasta until I find a new obsession.
Or return to an old one? Oatmeal and mug cakes anyone?
Broccoli Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 300 g penne pasta
- 300 g broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 tablespoon salted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Cook the pasta, adding the broccoli for the final 4-5 mins and cooking until tender. Drain, and pour into a 9×13 casserole dish. Preheat your broiler to high.
- Heat the butter in the same saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then gradually add the milk, stirring well between each addition. Bring to the boil, stirring, then simmer for 2 mins, before stirring in the mustard and half the cheese.
- Mix the sauce into the pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the pasta mixture and broil on high for 3-4 mins until golden and bubbling.
Another quick, delicious recipe. You must be a teacher or something! Congrats! I used to sub and yes-I did carry a water bottle!
Yay!! Loving your new job is definitely a good thing. As is mac and cheese!
That looks really good! I especially like the broccoli 🙂
Congrats on your new teaching job, and you sound like the perfect teacher I would have loved to have! Passionate, fun, and great with food 🙂 xx
Love pasta, tour version looks delicious dear
Ooo. This is thrilling, indeed. Simply, savory goodness. Please sign-up my stomachs for this meal.
And congrats on your new job. woohoo!
Such yummy comfort food!! I can't wait to try it!
Congratulations on your new teaching position! You are on the right track with this recipe - it looks and sounds wonderful!
Cheesy pasta is always a great dinner plan. Congratulations on your new teaching job!
Broccoli and cheddar are perfect together, and mustard just adds so much bite and flavor 🙂
Incredibly yummy dear..
Cathleen, hi!
I am so glad you are loving your new job, and hopefully it will even get better when you get to know your students properly!
This pasta bake looks fan-flippin'-tastic if I may say so myself 😀 Yum! It seems to hold all the good in life 🙂 Also though, you asked for more ideas, and stir-fry (when made well) is always such a good meal. I thought of this recipe that features a little bit of peanut butter in the sauce, so nice and mild: http://julesthenorweegie.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/peanut-soy-turkey-stir-fry.html
I hope you are enjoying your weekend 🙂 xx
I just checked out that recipe. It looks like something I would want to make soon! Thanks for the suggestion!
Yummy! I used to make something similar just with some ham 😀
I am so glad you're enjoying the new gig!
Hi Cathleen, I love simple and easy recipes like yours. Very healthy indeed 😀
Take care and have a wonderful Sunday.
Ann