Now, About That Sunday Gravy

I have a million uses for Sunday Gravy.

Here's one I tried (read: made up) last Sunday.

I remembered while shopping in bulk at WalMart a few weeks ago that I used to really like that wagon wheel (some call it fancier names, but it will always be wagon wheel to me) pasta. I also seemed to recall, back in my early cooking days, making a spicy tomato cream sauce that I used over those wagon wheels. Nothing too fancy, but it was one of my favorite things to make and I thought because I used half and half it was gourmet.

Anyway, last Sunday I decided to use my wagon wheels, which turned out to be "mini" wagon wheels. I was crushed, thinking it would be horrible, but it turned out that after cooking them they seemed just the right size.

Here it is, as I designed it this time.

1 recipe of Sunday gravy. Portion off about four or five cups of it to freeze for later. Pour the rest into a skillet with some already browned and drained Italian sausage. NOTE: *I couldn't find any good hot Italian sausage in the WalMarts, so I fancied it up myself, adding some fennel seeds and crushed red pepper while TBI browned it. Turned out fabulous.

Add about a cup of half and half to your SG/Sausage mixture in the LARGE skillet or pot you're using, and let it simmer for awhile to meld the flavors. Do not scorch the milk. Toss in a little more cayenne pepper and fennel seed.

Make a thin layer of the sauce on the bottom of your deep casserole dish (I mean it, use something deeper than a normal 9x13 pan for this - it makes a lot!) and then dump half of the pasta in. Layer on some shredded cheese; I had a mozzarella/provolone mix that I thought was perfect for this, and maybe toss in a little parmesian for good measure, pour on half the sauce, and repeat. On the very top, pour in another few tablespoons of half and half, and then make a layer of provolone slices all over the top.

Bake at 325 for 40 minutes or so, just to make sure you have warmed through and you get some nice browning on the cheese. Serve with Lazy Bitch caesar salad from the bag, and some gooey garlic bread. And then go for a ten mile run.

*I think this was really easy, and a nice replacement for lasagna, which is a little more time consuming, and is always better the next day because it needs to set up. This comes out fine, straight from the oven!

Ingredient List:
1 Box Barilla Mini Wagon Wheels
2/3 recipe of Sunday Gravy
2 1/2 c half and half
1 tablespoon fennel seeds, divided
4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 pkg italian sausage (about 1.5 lbs.)
2 c. mozzarella/provolone mix shredded cheese
8 slices provolone