#132 Learn How to Cook- Italian Mac and Cheese

Italian Macaroni and Cheese

What you will need:

• 1 pound ziti
• 1 pound sausage
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 12 crimini mushrooms, roughly sliced
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 1/2 cup Italian cheese
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup parmesan

Directions on how to cook this deliciousness.

1. Cook pasta to chewy al dente (about 8 minutes)
2. Brown and crumble sausage. Drain sausage on a paper towel lined plate.
3. In the same pan, add olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until the mushrooms turn a lightly golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to broil.
5. To mushrooms, add flour and stir cooking 2 minutes. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream. Bring mixture to a bubble. Add 2 cups of cheese and drained tomatoes. Cook until cheese melts.
6. Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta. 
7. Transfer to baking dish and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of italian cheese and the grated parmesan.
8. Brown under hot broiler (about 3-7 minutes)

I really hope you all try this dish. It is really, really tasty. I don't remember where I originally got the recipe from, but whoever it was knows their mac and cheese. You will never, ever, go back to box mac and cheese after this one.

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