Baked Ziti and Cheese

1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup green pepper slices, cut into 2-inch lengths
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
3 cups ziti, uncooked

Bake sausage at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes; cool.

Slice sausage in thin pieces; set aside. Saute mushrooms, green pepper and onion in butter or margarine in 3-quart saucepan until tender, but not brown; remove vegetables from pan and set aside.

Blend flour into butter or margarine in saucepan; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir constantly over medium low heat until mixture begins to boil. Boil and stir 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese and Parmesan or Romano cheese, salt and pepper; stir until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside and keep warm.

Cook ziti according to package directions for 10 minutes; drain well.

Stir cooked ziti, reserved sausage slices and reserved sauteed vegetables into the cheese sauce. Pour mixture into a buttered 2-quart casserole or baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Remove foil; bake about 10 to 15 minutes longer or until top is browned.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.