Macaroni and Cheese With Roasted Veggies & Pork Sausage

Comfort food with a lot of taste! Entry for Ready Set Cook #3 contest.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 6  oktoberfest pork sausage or 6  your favourite pork sausage
• 1  tablespoon hot red pepper flakes
• 2  bay leaves
•  salt and pepper
• 1  zucchini, unpeeled and cubed
• 1  sweet red pepper, seeded and cubed
• 1  large  jalapeno pepper, seeded and cubed
• 1  ear  sweet corn, fresh or frozen, cut in 2 inch lengths
• 1  medium carrot, cubed
• 1  peeled sweet potatoes or 1  yam, cubed
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 1 (385 ml) can 2% evaporated milk, add fresh
•  2% low-fat milk, to make 3 cups
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2  cups low-fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4  ounces light cream cheese, cubed
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dry thyme leaves, crushed
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 5  cups  cooked penne pasta (we like whole wheat penne)

• Topping

• 1  cup  fresh breadcrumb
• 3  tablespoons butter, melted
• 2  tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

1. Place pork sausage in a large Dutch oven, brown on all sides, drain fat and poke each sausage several times with a sharp knife.
2. Return to Dutch oven, cover with water, add hot red pepper flakes, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
3. Bring to boil, simmer for 1 hour, remove to drain on paper towel.
4. Discard water and bay leaves.
5. Slice sausage into bite size pieces, set aside.
6. Place veggies in a large bowl, drizzle veggie oil over all, toss until all veggies are well coated.
7. Spread coated veggies, in one layer, on lightly greased baking sheet; roast for 25 minutes at 450f degrees, turning once.
8. Whisk 1/4 cup of the milk with flour.
9. In a saucepan, heat remaining milk over medium heat until bubbles appear around edge; whisk in flour mixture and bring to boil, whisking constantly.
10. Reduce heat to medium low; cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until thickened.
11. Remove from heat, whisk in cheddar and cream cheese, mustard, thyme, salt and pepper.
12. Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water; cook pasta until barely tender.
13. Drain well and return to pot; stir in sauce.
14. Add bite size pieces pork sausage.
15. Remove corn kernels from husks, discard husks, add all roasted veggies to pasta/sausage/sauce mixture, stir gently to coat.
16. Spoon mixture into greased 10 cup casserole.
17. Topping: Mix bread crumbs with melted butter and Parmesan cheese.
18. Sprinkle topping mixture over top of casserole.
19. Bake at 450f degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until bubbly and golden.