Italian - Style Mac 'n Cheese

From Rachel Ray's Get Together cookbook. Very hearty and a wonderful taste.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1  lb ziti pasta or 1  lb penne
• 1  lb  italian bulk  sweet sausage
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  tablespoon butter
• 4  cloves garlic, chopped
• 12  mushrooms, sliced
• 2  tablespoons flour
• 1  cup  chicken stock
• 1  cup heavy cream
• 2 1⁄2 cups  shredded  Italian cheese blend
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, well drained
• 1  teaspoon  hot sauce (like Tabasco)
• 1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. Brown and crumble the sausage.
3. Drain on paper towels.
4. Return pan to heat and add olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Saute 3 to 5 minutes.
7. Preheat broiler to high.
8. To mushrooms, add flour and stir, cooking 2 mnutes.
9. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream.
10. Bring cream to a buble, then stir in two cups of 4 cheese blend.
11. When cheese has melted, add tomatoes.
12. When sauce comes to a buble, remove from head and adjust seasonings, adding hot sauce if desired.
13. Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta, transfer to a baking dish.
14. Sprinklge remaining 1/2 cup 4 cheese blend and the grated Parmesan over the top and brown under hot broiler.