Rachael Ray's Fancy Manchego Mac and Chorizo

Fancy Manchego Mac and Chourico
my changes in black

Salt and pepper
1 pound cavatappi (hollow corkscrew) or other short-cut pasta whole wheat rotini
Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling skipped this
1/2 pound raw chorizo sausage, casings discarded, chopped ground chourico
3 tablespoons butter
2 shallots, chopped skipped this
3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons flour
1/3 cup dry sherry
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup whole milk or half-and-half light cream
2 cups shredded manchego cheese diced provolone
2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped jarred pimiento peppers 1/2 chopped red pepper
1/2 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. I added the frozen peas the last 4 minutes of the pasta cooking. Drain.
2. While the pasta is working, in a large skillet, heat a drizzle of EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo and cook until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
3. In a medium saucepan,(I used the same frying pan from the chourico) melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour, then whisk in the sherry. Stir in the chicken broth and milk and cook until thickened; season with pepper. Stir in the cheese. Fold in the peas and pimientos.
4. Drain the pasta, toss with the sauce and top with the chorizo and parsley.


comments- I was a little afraid when I saw this in the pan- so I added about 1/2 cup milk and thinned it a bit. There was nothing to fear though- this meal was delicious! It was one of those meals that you have to have just a little more, and a little more....
All kids liked it - enough for seconds. I wasn't sure-I thought it was going to be one of those stick with the original recipes. Wrong. This was great. Rachael come to the rescue again!

I had no idea what manchego cheese was (goat cheese) but I found here that provolone cheese could be substituted.

I am going to submit this to Presto Pasta Nights- unknown host as of yet. Also to be in the round up at Everything Rachael Ray. Thanks ladies!!