Italian Mac-N-Cheese

This is definately one of our favorites!!!

Ingredients:
1 lb. ziti rigate, penne rigate, or cavatappi pasta (We use whatever we have)
1 lb. Italian sweet sausage
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
3 or 4 cloves garlic, chopped
12 crimini mushrooms, sliced (We've never done this, but brad wants me to try it :/ )
Salt and pepper
2 Tbsp. all- purpose flour
1 C. chicken stock
1 C. heavy cream
1 (10 oz.) sack 2 1/2 C., shredded Italian 4 cheese blend.
1 can diced tomatoes, drained well
1 tsp. hot sauce (optional, we've never tried this either, but should!)
1/2 C. Parmesan

Directions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Salt water and cook pasta to a chewy al dente, about 8 minutes.

In a nonstick skillet, brown and crumble the sausage.  Drain cooked crumbles on paper towel lined plate.  Return pan to heat and add oil, butter, and garlic and mushrooms.  (I'll usually just add the garlic and skip the shrooms)  Season liberally with salt and pepper.  saute 3 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are lightly golden.  (if used)

Preheate broiler to high

To mushrooms (or garlic) add flour and stir, cooking 2 minutes.  Whisk in stock, then stir in cream.  bring cream to a bubble, then stir in 2 cups of 4 cheese blend.  when cheese has melted into sauce, add tomatoes.  when sauce comes to a bubble, remove from heat and adjust seasonings, ading hot sauce if desired.

Combine chese sauce with sausage and pasta, transfer to baking dish, casserole or oven safe serving platter.  sprinkle remaining 1/2 C. of 4 cheese blend and the grated parmesan over the top and brown under hot broiler.