Cheesy Mushroom Penne Pasta

This dish is for our "no rice" dinner which we try to do at least 2-3 times a week. See, the "bad side" about loving to cook is that you forget about your diet -- and that includes your family's too, being the guinea pigs of your experiments, hehe! So now that both the Expat Daddy and I plus the Big Ate are all on the heavy side --- with me experiencing signs of high levels of uric acid, well, we just somehow have to do something about it! It doesn't help that I have gone back to trying to do some baking :(.
This time, instead of the ordinary white pasta that we commonly call "carbonara", I have tried a new sauce recipe using Cheese Whiz as the main ingredient. The process didn't really deviate much on the way we make our white sauce only, I wanted to try something else other than using the powdered cream of mushroom soup that we buy in packets. Not that there's anything wrong about it, I just felt that since I have really started to spend so much time into cooking, it's about time to improve the simple recipes I have used throughout the years, and now I start to realize that the white sauce could taste so much better less the preservatives included in the mushroom soup powder we buy from the supermarket. Try this recipe and you'll know what I mean :)

This dish is a hit specially to my girls and the best thing about it is that it is too cheap and easy to make... The only little set back is finding the Cheese Whiz which are not always available in the bigger supermarkets. To make sure you'll find one, the best recourse is to visit the Souq Aseiry Area where the line of Filipino supermarkets are located. Of course there are also several Pinoy Supermarkets around town that may also carry the product, but the best bet really is the Pinoy Souq!
Ingredients:
1 pack Penne Pasta (cooked as per package instructions)
2 tbs butter
2 tbs cooking oil
1 big onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup minced beef
1 small can button mushrooms, sliced (brine included)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup thick cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup Cheese Whiz
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper to taste


Method:
In a skillet, saute garlic, onion and beef in hot oil for about 5 minutes, or until meat starts to change color. Turn off heat and set aside.
Over very low heat, put in the flour in a sauce pan and saute until  beginning to brown. Add in the butter and stir. 
When the butter melts and blends with the flour to form a paste, and half of the water. Stir gradually until all lumps are dissolved. 
Adjust heat a little higher and add sauteed beef mixture and mushrooms with brine. Simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Again, stirring constantly to prevent the sauce from sticking to the pan and forming lumps.
In a small bowl, mix the milk, thick cream and Cheese Whiz together with a bit of salt and pepper. 
Add into the simmering sauce.
Check taste and adjust with salt and pepper. Let simmer for another 3-5 minutes or until desired consistency is achieved. 
Turn off heat. Pour over cooked penne pasta and serve. Surely the kids won't say no to all that cheese! Enjoy!






Mommy Tip: my girls also love this sauce with their veggies (brocolli, carrots and green peas) you can try it too!




You might also like


Kiddie Party Spaghetti


Baked Macaroni


Pancit Sotanghon (Glass Noodles)


Roasted Chicken in Cheesy Cream Sauce