Ziti With Sharp Cheddar And Mushrooms

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 tablespoons olive oil or 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 celery rib, finely chopped
• 8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
• 2 leeks, parts only, quartered lengthwise and sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3 cups milk, warmed
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup fresh breadcrumb

Recipe

• 1 warm the oil in a saucepan (you can use butter, but i am trying to keep things lighter).
• 2 add the celery, mushrooms, leeks, and marjoram and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• 3 stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, then quickly whisk in the milk.
• 4 simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 5 season the sauce with 1 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste, and the mustard.
• 6 preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly butter or oil a 3 quart baking dish.
• 7 cook the ziti in plenty of boiling salted water until barely done.
• 8 drain it in a colander, then rinse under cold water.
• 9 combine the pasta with the sauce and cheese, then pour it into the baking dish and cover with the bread crumbs.
• 10 bake until bubbly and brown on top, approximately 25-30 minutes.