Orange Mac 'n Cheese

It is hard to understand why kids like Mac n cheese so much. It's so plain and heavy and it's such an unbalanced meal, but my kids like it. So I try to make it more nutritionally balanced by adding vegetables and protein - butternut squash and Edamame beans. Not a change in taste from the traditional dish and my kids finish it quick, but I'm still not a fan of it.
Anyway, here is the Orange Mac 'n Cheese from my kitchen:

Ingredients

1 box of macaroni

1 butternut squash

1 cup of shelled Edamame beans

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup of cream

1 tsp. of flour

1 tsp. of paprika

Salt to taste
extra cheese for topping, any type

How

1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Cut the squash lengthwise, scoop out and discard the seeds. Place the squash face down on a baking tray and bake in the oven until completely soft, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven. When it's cool enough to handle, scooped out the flesh and discard the skin. Mash the flesh and set aside.
   
   
2. In a bowl, mix the flour together with the shredded cheese and set aside.
3. In a saucepan, heat up the cream. Just when it is about to boil, whisk in the shredded cheese. Continue to whisk and cook on low heat for 5 minutes. Add in the mashed squash and whisk until smooth. Add the Edamame beans and mix well. Add paprika and salt to taste.
   
    
4. The cheese sauce can be stored away in the fridge or freezer now and heated up to serve at a later time. If the sauce is too thick after reheating, add some milk or water until it reaches a consistency to your liking.
   
    
5. Cook the macaroni in accordance with the instructions on the box minus one minutes. Remove the macaroni from the cooking water, rinse it under cold water then drain well. Add the macaroni into the cheese sauce and warm it through. Stir while cooking.
6. The macaroni may be served as is, or topped with cheese and broil or blow-torch finish for added flavor. 

   

   Topped with cheese. 

   

   Blow-torch to melt the cheese and add some ham. Finish the topping in a Tupperware for lunch packing.