Healthy Thanksgiving recipes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thanksgiving is nearly here! Dinners usually consist of traditional items and down-home favorites, like turkey, macaroni and cheese, and stuffing.

But you don't have to loosen your belt to enjoy your favorite dishes. There are healthier ways to make traditional Turkey Day meals.

The owners of DA's Deli & Diner, Darryl and Gloria Abernathy, visited the ABC7 State Street Studios to show how they make their Mac & Cheese.

Open Thanksgiving

Thursday, Nov. 26

7260 W. 159th St. at 159th and Harlem Avenue

RECIPE: DA'S Deli & Diner Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

1 lb. Macaroni

1 lb. Block American cheese

4 cups cheddar cheese blend

1/4 cup margarine

1 quart 2 percent milk

2 eggs

3 tablespoons seasoning salt

Preparation:

Bring a quart of water to a boil and add macaroni noodles with 1 tablespoon of canola oil, boil for 7 minutes, rinse noodles.

Pour back into pot with 1 quart of milk, medium heat.

Add block cheese and margarine and when ingredients have melted, immediately remove from heat, into a half size baking pan pour in contents from pot.

Add 2 cups of cheddar cheese, stir, adding in eggs and seasoning.

Last top with 2 cups of cheddar cheese. Cover and place in oven at 350 degrees.

Bake for 25 minutes, remove cover and lightly brown.