Southwest Mac and Cheese

I saw this recipe on one of my favorite recipe blogs, The Pioneer Woman. I love that blog. She always posts such great recipes and photos. When I saw this recipe, I was dying to try it. Since its pretty heavy and rich, when I made it, I served it as a side dish with a grilled chicken breast and some cut up fruit to the side to lighten it up a bit.


Ingredients:
4 cups macaroni noodles
1/4 to 1/2 of a red onion, diced
equal amount of red bell pepper, diced
1 4oz. can chopped green chiles
1 cup frozed corn
1 finely diced jalepeno pepper
1 heaping cup grated pepper jack cheese
2-3 cloves garlic
1 cup heavy cream
olive oil
2 tablespoons butter (*I only added half the butter)
salt and pepper

Directions:
Boil pasta until al dente.

In a large skillet, add olive oil and saute onions, bell pepper, jalepeno (de-seeded), garlic, and corn over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add in canned chiles and stir in, then turn off heat.

Drain pasta and add it to the skillet. Pour on cream, add cheese, then add salt and pepper to taste and stir gently. At the end, add 2 tablespoons of butter and stir again. Salt and pepper to taste.