Sunday Supper: "Kielbasa" Mac and Cheese

Tonight's Supper: Kielbasa Macaroni and Cheese
Tonight's Sunday Supper Soundtrack: Scottish Folk at Its Best (I've been a little obsessed with Scottish folk ballads since my headlong dash through the Outlander series this summer)

I was away this weekend, and consequently wasn’t in the mood to try anything too ambitious for supper tonight.  I was, however, in the mood to try out some of the fancy vegan stuff I got while I was on the mainland, including this kielbasa-style sausage:

I settled on kielbasa mac-and-cheese, made with this powdered “cheese” sauce:
because, again, not in the mood for anything involving lots of time on my feet (like a made from scratch sauce).  However, in the recipe below I’ve included directions for how to make a from-scratch vegan cheese sauce.

I fried the kielbasa until it was nice and brown and crispy, mixed it with the pasta and some veggies, added the “cheese sauce” and some Daiya cheddar, and then baked it at 400 for about 15 minutes--just long enough to melt the cheddar and let all the flavors blend. 

Exciting?  No, not especially.  But tasty?  Definitely.  I’ll be back next week with something a little more adventurous.

Recipe:
Tofurky kielbasa-style sausage
1 lb. box pasta (I used rigatoni)
Whatever veggies you want to throw in (I used green peppers, broccoli, and carrot)
1/2 cup Daiya cheddar (optional)

Cheese sauce:
2 cups shredded Daiya Cheddar cheese
3 cups plain soymilk
1/4 cup vegan margarine
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Cook the pasta according to package directions.  While that’s cooking, make the cheese sauce:
In a saucepan, melt margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add soymilk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheese, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick.  It'll take a little while, but just be patient--it will come together eventually.

Mix together pasta, veggies, and kielbasa, and put into 9x13 casserole dish.  Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta.  Add Daiya cheese on top, if desired.  Bake at 400F for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.