White Cheese and Sausage Pasta

I found this last week or the week before.  I was not sure how good it would be, because it doesn't really have a lot of ingredients.  D said add some garlic.

Anyway he ended up making this and said it was easy. I think the hardest part was finding the sausage... Aldi has been out for weeks, and Kroger usually has 1-2 packs if that. Atlanta must be in the Great Sausage Shortage or something.

We had 5 servings.  We didn't have a side.  Both of us liked it for its simplicity.  Would have again.


White Cheese and Sausage Pasta 

This recipe is definitely a family favorite. The reader and her daughter invented it 10 years ago because they loves cheese. Now it is the family's favorite meal. It is very easy, and if you like cheese, you'll love this.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups)

Photo by ALB

Ingredients
1/2 pound mild Italian turkey sausage (used Spicy Italian - Pork)
Add some garlic
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups 1% skim milk
6 cups hot cooked ziti (about 4 cups uncooked short tube-shaped pasta)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preparation
Remove sausage from casings. Place a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat; cook sausage until browned, stirring to crumble. Drain well; set aside. Wipe drippings from pan with a paper towel.

Melt butter in pan over medium heat. Add flour; stir with a whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Cook until thick (about 8 minutes); remove from heat. Combine sauce, sausage, pasta, Parmesan, and salt in a large bowl. Spoon mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 577; Fat: 18.4g; Saturated fat: 10.1g; Monounsaturated fat: 4.4g; Polyunsaturated fat: 1.3g; Protein: 31.3g; Carbohydrate: 71.4g; Fiber: 2.7g; Cholesterol: 56mg; Iron: 3.7mg; Sodium: 907mg; Calcium: 562mg

Nutritional Information (with my changes)
Calories: 678; Fat: 27g; Saturated fat: 13g; Monounsaturated fat: 4g; Polyunsaturated fat: 1g; Protein: 36g; Carbohydrate: 75g; Fiber: 3g; Cholesterol: 80mg; Sodium: 868mg


Cooking Light JANUARY 2002