Kicked Up Sausage Macaroni and Cheese

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   ["Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.", "Butter a large casserole dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter and set aside.", "Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.", "Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.", "Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water.", "Drain well.", "In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, stirring, until browned and the fat is rendered.", "Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.", "Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.", "Add the onions, bell peppers, and 1 teaspoon of the Essence, and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until soft, about 3 minutes.", "Add the garlic and anise seeds, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.", "Remove from the heat.", "Melt the remaining stick of butter in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat.", "Add the flour, and stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, cook over medium heat until thick, 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to let the flour brown.", "Using a whisk, add the milk in a steady stream and cook, whisking constantly, until thick and smooth, 4 to 5 minutes.", "Remove from the heat.", "Add the salt, pepper, cayenne, and 2 cups of the cheese, and stir well.", "Add the noodles, cooked sausage and vegetables, and stir well to combine.", "Pour into the prepared baking dish.", "In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup of cheese with the breadcrumbs and remaining 2 teaspoons of Essence.", "Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 25 minutes.", "Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.", "Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.", "Yield: about 2/3 cup", "Recipe from ""New New Orleans Cooking"

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.