Broccoli Basil Mac & Cheese

• 1 small butternut, acorn, or other winter squash, peeled, seeded and cut into tiny chunks, skin on
• olive oil
• 1 bunch of basil, stems removed
• 2 slices good brown bread, stale or dried out in the oven
• 1/2 a small head of broccoli (100 g / 3.5 oz), roughly chopped
• 4 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream
• ~ 1 3/4 cups / 3.5 oz / 100 g grated white cheddar cheese
• ~ 1 3/4 cups / 3.5 oz / 100 g grated gruyere cheese
• a large handful of (yellow) cherry tomatoes
• 3 cups / 300 g dried (whole wheat) macaroni elbows

1. Preheat your oven to 400F / 200C with a rack in the middle. Put a large pot of water on to boil.
2. Place the squash on a large baking sheet, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until golden.
3. In the meantime, pulse half the basil, all of the bread, the broccoli and a lug of olive oil in a food processor until you've got a fine crumb. It'll be a bit damp - that's o.k. Transfer to a small bowl and give the processor a rinse.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the creme fraiche and grated cheeses.
5. Place the cherry tomatoes in the food processor with the remaining basil. Pulse a couple times to break things up, then add to the creme fraiche mixture and stir well.
6. Boil the pasta in well-salted water for a bit less time than the package suggests - you want it ever so slightly undercooked. Drain, reserving a big cup of the hot pasta water for later use. Return the hot pasta to the pan and add the cheese mixture to it. Add the squash and give it a good stir. Add pasta water to thin the sauce to the consistency of cream. It can be a bit runny as the pasta will soak it up in the oven.
7. Transfer everything to a large baking dish or casserole. Sprinkle the green breadcrumbs evenly across the top and bake for 20 -25 minutes or until the topping is crunchy. Remove from the oven, and wait 10 minutes before serving.

butternut, olive oil, basil, brown bread, head of broccoli, creme fraiche, grated white cheddar cheese, gruyere cheese, handful of

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/broccoli-basil-mac-cheese-51240091 (may not work)