One-pan Baked Sausage Pasta

It wasn't long ago I did a "Potato Sausage Bake".  I guess we are really into sausage and potato these days.  This one is a bit different, is saucier and has pasta. Actually it came together as one of those "let's get rid of leftovers in the fridge" kind of dishes.  It's also a lesson in what not to do, and what I like and don't like. We had some celery going soft, a big bag of carrots that needed to be winnowed down, and a tupperware of cooked plain pasta from the other night that would have otherwise been thrown away soon. Oh, and a huge sausage in a take-out box from SO's lunch at some restaurant.

One-pan Baked Sausage Pasta

So there are two things I liked about this: it was all done in one pan, and it used up some stuff from the fridge. I didn't like a few things though: I put too much cheese, and I didn't like the refried beans I put in. SO really liked the beans on the other hand.  Oh yeah, the breadcrumbs on top was really nice, added a little crunch.

Next time: if it's going to be saucy, then don't go half-way. It was mushy instead of saucy.

Me: 5/10
SO:8/10
SSO: 3/10


One-pan Baked Sausage Pasta
Ingredients

• a couple ribs of celery, diced
• a couple medium carrots, diced
• a medium onion, diced
• 3 sausages, any kind (I used one left-over sausage and some smoked ham).  Slice into 1/4" rounds, then half the rounds.
• 1 C milk, a couple Tb of butter, and 1 Tb flour 
• 2 C cooked pasta, such as elbows, penne, whatever
• 1 C or so tomato sauce, or prepared pasta sauce
• your fav spices e.g. oregano, chili powder, whatever. I used "Butcher's Block salt blend", which has mustard seed, garlic and onion powder, pepper, etc. Epicure I think.
• 1/2 C shredded cheese, any kind
• 1/4 C grated parmesan
• 1/2 C bread crumbs

Method

1. If the sausage is uncooked, then cook it in your largest skillet. This will be containing everything and going in the oven in the end. If the sausage is smoked or cooked, add it after the veggies.
2. Cook the celery, carrots, and onion in a bit of oil until softened. Add sausage if not already in the pan.
3. Make a space in the middle of the pan, add the butter and flour. stir a bit, add the milk, and cook for a minute or two.
4. Add the pasta, tomato sauce, spices. Heat up a bit, then turn the burner off. 
5. Stir in the shredded cheese, and pop into a 350 oven until well heated.
6. Sprinkle the parmesan and breadcrumbs on top, broil until browned.