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 ounces elbow macaroni
3/4 pound mild or hot Italian sausage
2 tablespoons 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 cups 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.