Cheesy Mac Bites w/ Herby Avocado Dressing

You want cheesy? We’ll give you cheesy. Dina & I teamed up to bring you these savory and delicious cheesy mac bites that are sure to knock your socks off. Made with a rich creamy cashew cheese sauce and paired with an herby avocado dressing,  the only thing I can promise is a potential food-gasam. 

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Bake Time: 25 minutes

THE CHEESY SAUCE

• 2 cups cashews
• 1.5 cups unsweetened soy milk
• 1 cup
  • water
  • nutritional yeast
• 1/2 cup Daiya cheddar shreds
• 2 tbs spicy brown mustard
• 1 tsp
  • chili powder
  • smoked paprika
  • salt
  • pepper
  • earth balance buttery spread

blend together 2 cups of cashews, 1 cup of water, and a 1/2 cup of soy milk together until smooth | pour into pot, place on stove, and heat on medium | add nutritional yeast and Daiya cheddar shreds and stir | continuing stirring and add spicy brown mustard along with the rest of the seasonings and earth balance spread | mix until smooth and creamy |

*if too thick add hot water from pasta

THE BITES

• 1  – 24 cup “mini muffin” baking tin
• 1 lb pasta of your choice
• 1 cup of bread crumb
• 1/2 cup Daiya cheddar shreds
• 1/4 cup
  • vegan parmesan
  • Earth Balance buttery spread
    • melted
• 1 tbs
  • onion powder
  • garlic powder
  • dried organo
  • dried basil
• 1 tsp
  • salt
  • pepper

pre-heat oven to 350 degrees |make bread crumb mixture by combining 1 cup of bread crumbs with 1/4 cup vegan parmesan and all of the spices listed above |stir together | add melted buttery spread | stir again |take bread crumb mixture and add to the  bottom of each cup on the muffin tin | pat down bread crumbs until flat | add a thin layer of Daiya cheddar shreds on top of the bread crumb mixture in each cup |boil 1 lb of pasta for 8 minutes | drain and place back into pot | add “cheesy sauce” mixture to the pasta and stir until completely coated | add a scoop of the pasta to each cup on the mini muffin tray | bake for 20 minutes – until golden brown | let cool |

THE HERBY AVOCADO RANCH DRESSING

• 1 avocado
• juice from 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 cup vegan sour cream
• 3/4 cup unsweetened soy milk
• 2 tbs chives
  • chopped
• 1 clove garlic
  • minced
• 1 tbs parsley
  • chopped
• 1 tsp
  • salt
  • pepper

blend together all above ingredients | garnish with chopped chives

remove cheesy mac bites from tray | sprinkle smoked paprika on bites | serve with herby avocado dressing | enjoy!