Put a Twist on Pumpkin Mac and Cheese!

In terms of Thanksgiving side dishes go, Im pretty partial to macaroni and cheese. I mean, whats not to love about a creamy, cheesy bowl of pasta next to your turkey and cranberry sauce? In my opinion, any negative thoughts about carbohydrates go out the window on Thanksgiving as we load up our plates with mashed potatoes, rolls and casseroles. I had a hard time naming this dish because, to be fair, it cant really be called pumpkin macaroni and cheese since I used shell pasta instead of traditional macaroni noodles. My love for shells and cheese goes back to my childhood Velveeta days. You could definitely use macaroni noodles instead of shell pasta here, but I guarantee no matter what you use this dish will be a winner. It is quite positively the creamiest macaroni and cheese Ive ever tasted, and the addition of rosemary and pumpkin gives it a special seasonal kick.

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Jenna Weber is half of the Fresh Tastes blog team. She graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2008 and, since then, has worked as a pastry chef, bread baker and freelance food editor. Currently, Jenna blogs full-time on EatLiveRun.com where her delicious daily recipes and quirky culinary musings appeal to thousands. She lives in Northern California and, when not in the kitchen, can usually be found on her yoga mat.