PASTA WITH CREAMY TOMATO & SAUSAGE SAUCE

This recipe is super simple and extra delicious.  It stays well, as a leftover and can even be eaten cold.  Juicy bits of sausage in a flavorful tomato-based sauce is served with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

You can use pork sausage (hot or sweet) or chicken sausage or keep it vegetarian with a vegan sausage. 

Ingredients: (serves 4-6 people)

·      Olive oil – 1 tbsp, for sauteing of sausage meat

·      1 yellow onion – chopped finely

·      6 cloves of garlic, sliced thin

·      6 oz of crushed tomatoes – from a can

·      12 grape tomatoes sliced in half

·      ½ cup of light cream

·      6 sausages (I used hot sausage)

·      1lb of mezzi rigatoni or penne

·      Basil or parsley

·      Red pepper flakes, salt and ground pepper

·      Parmesan chunk to grate

·      Spinach or arugula

Directions:

1.   Remove sausage meat from casing and saute in a pan with olive oil.  Brown on both sides and cut into small pieces.

2.   Remove sausage from pan and then saute onions on medium heat.  Add the garlic after about 2 minutes till golden.

3.   Add red pepper flakes, basil or Italian parsley

4.   Add crushed tomatoes, stir for about 1 minute and then add grape tomatoes.  Return sausage to the pan.

5.   Boil water in a sauce pan and throw the pasta.  Add salt to the water, about 4 tbsp.  Put aside about 1 cup of pasta water.

6.   Simmer sauce over light heat and add cream.  Put as much in as you prefer, I like the sauce to be a pink color, not too much cream.

7.   Cook pasta about 9 minutes or so till al dente.  Strain and then return to sauce pan.  Mix in the sauce.  Add pasta water as needed and stir. 

8.   If desired, add some arugula or baby spinach and stir in.  Gives

     your sauce a nice presentation.  Grate cheese on top.

9.   Serve individually in a large pasta dish or put in a platter for family    

     style. 

Buon appetit!!