Easy, Creamy Squash Pasta

This pasta dish comes together in less than an hour and in one pot. It's creamy and delicious with the slightly spicy sausage and squash that breaks down to become part of the sauce - yum!

See it made at 'How Chandra Does Food' on YouTube.https://youtu.be/bCP6_RHJmvg?si=wPYjS0DOJxdf9HWz

Ingredients:

1 tbsp bacon fat (or other fat/oil)

1 lb Italian sausage

1 tbsp flour (rice, cassava, or wheat)

2 cups milk

1 cup cream

2 cups chicken, pork, or vegetable stock

1 1/4 cups grated parmesan, plus more for topping

1 lb winter squash (butternut, honeynut, acorn, pumpkin), cubed into 1/4" pieces

12 oz pasta such as ziti or fusilli

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

1 sprig sage

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Directions:

Heat fat in heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. If using sausage links, remove casing and cook, breaking up into small pieces until browned.

Add squash and flour and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes.

Add stock to pan, using a spoon to loosen up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Stir in milk and cream and bring mixture to a simmer.

Add parmesan, then pasta, garlic, sage, salt, and nutmeg.

Stir to combine, ensuring pasta is submerged.

Bring to a boil, then turn to lowest possible heat for a slow simmer.

Cook for about 20 minutes, until pasta is done.