Italian Macaroni and Cheese
Bring a little taste of Italy home to your kitchen with this unique take on a baked macaroni and cheese recipe. I dare you to resist this Italian Macaroni and Cheese. Pretty soon your whole family will be saying let's mangi!
Ingredients
- 9 ounce elbow macaroni
- 3/4 pound mild or hot Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large chopped red/green peppers
- 1/2 pound thinly sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dry basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup Parmesan
- 1 1/2 cup shredded jack cheese
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni in water according to directions; drain.
- Crumble sausage into a 10 inch pan; cook over medium high heat until well browned.
- Lift out sausage from the frying pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Discard all but 2 Tbsp of drippings.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Into the drippings, add the butter and onion and cook, stirring until onion is limp.
- Add the garlic, pepper and mushrooms and cook until mushrooms are soft and all liquid evaporates.
- Stir in the flour and cook until bubbly.
- Gradually stir in the milk to make a smooth sauce.
- Continue cooking and stirring until sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.
- Add oregano, basil, salt, parmesan cheese and drained macaroni; stir to coat.
- Place half of the macaroni mixture in a buttered 2-1/2 quart baking dish.
- Sprinkle the sausage on top.
- Then layer the remaining macaroni with the jack cheese.
- Bake uncovered in a 400 degrees F oven for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and center is hot.