Pasta Primavera with Italian Sausage

This is my husband's new favorite dish that I make.  Super easy to make and it is delicious.  It is a spin off of Giada Di Laurentiis's recipe on the food network.

INGREDIENTS


2 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
1 large squash, cut into thin strips
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 Cup of Broccoli Trees
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Cloves of Garlic, sliced in quarters
Kosher salt
Fresh ground black pepper
1 Tbsp dried Italian herbs: Basil, Oregano, Thyme
1 pound Pasta
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup grated Parmesan

INSTRUCTIONS


Cook Italian (Chicken or Pork) Sausage in a frying pan with a bit of olive oil. Slice and set aside when finished cooking.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.

Kraft Garlic Cheese Roll Ball Controversy

Aunt Dot explained that she can no longer make her cheese grits because Kraft has discontinued the Garlic Cheese Ball (or tube, or roll - whatever).  I made it my mission today to figure out the mystery behind the beloved ingredient.  Below is an interesting message board of many other enraged cooks who relied on the Kraft Garlic Cheese ball for important family holiday dishes:
http://www.topix.com/forum/com/kft/THF4JIDM066QAJD8N

So, the mystery may be as simple as this...

Option 1


Garlic Cheese Rolls
11/2 pounds sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 pound processed cheese product such as Velveeta
3 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
Garlic powder to taste
Soften cheeses and mix all together well. Shape into four rolls and wrap well in foil or plastic wrap.

OR
Apparenty the Kraft people told a grocery store owner that the "Easy Cheese Roasted Garlic Cheddar flavor is the same thing in a can.  I am not an advocate of spray cheese, in fact, it makes my skin crawl, but I won't be without my cheese grits this year. 

Arugula & Mustard Mayonaise for Holiday Ham

Might make this one too:

3 Cups of mayonasise
3 Cups chopped arugula
1/4 Cup of Dijon Mustard
1/4 Cup of Lemon Juice (fresh)
1 1/2 tsp of freshly ground pepper

Cranberry Horseradish Sauce for a Holiday Ham from William Sonoma

This is a very tangy accompaniment to a Holiday Ham.  I got great feedback from everyone who tried.  Make the whole amount even though it seems like a lot because the cranberry sauce tastes great on leftover ham sandwiches with brie on baguette.

2 bags of fresh cranberries (this works out to be about 6 cups)
2 Cups of Sugar
1 1/2 Cups of Fresh Orange Juice
1/3 Cup Prepared Horseradish
1/2 tsp ground cloves

Prepare cranberry sauce as outlined on bag, except heat/boil and dissolve sugar in orange juice.  Add the cloves while the cranberries are popping in the hot orange juice and sugar.  After it has cooled a bit in the fridge, add the horseradish.  Add more or less depending on the taste; I think 1/3 cup works best.