Promise to Be a Family Favorite!

It's almost Friday!!!  This week flew by!  With the holidays drawing near, being in school, working full time, and over booking myself with family photos I've realized I need to slow down a bit.  I have to say I have a great husband.  Today he was so sweet and put some of our Christmas lights up outside!  I've NEVER had Christmas lights on our house or any house for that matter!  I promise, there will be pictures as soon as all the Christmas Decor is up! Anyway, the point of my blog today is to share with you a recipe my husband and I have made TWICE in one week!  It is so yummy to the tummy and on cold days like today, it really warms you up!  I found it on my favorite site, Pinterest.  I have found lots of great recipes on there, but this has to be one of my favorites.  If any of you are looking for a dinner recipe for tomorrow night, this is it!  It is so easy!  Even I could do it!  (Minus cutting my finger really bad while chopping the onion :( Again, thank goodness for my husband, to bandage me up!)  Here it is.  If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me!  I promise, it won't disappoint!


Creamy Sausage and Tomato Pasta
Source: Wylie Tidwell Makes 4-6 servings

4-5 Italian sausages (about 1 pound) found in the fresh meat department (I used spicy turkey Italian sausage; I really think a spicy sausage adds a lot of flavor)
1 cup chopped onion 
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16 ounce) can Italian style diced tomatoes 
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
5-6 big leaves of fresh basil, chopped
12 ounces penne pasta (get a 16 ounce box and use 3/4 of it)
grated Parmesan for topping

Directions: 
1) Cook the pasta in salted water al dente, according to package directions.
2) While pasta is cooking, brown the sausages and cut them into slices - little circles (I actually removed the casings and then browned and crumbled the sausages like you would ground beef).
3) Add the onions and garlic to the sausage and saute for a couple of minutes.
4) Pour in the entire can of diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce and heat through.
5) Pour in the cream and heat through. The longer you cook the sauce the thicker it will get so simmer it until it is the consistency you want.
6) Add the fresh basil and let it simmer for a few minutes.
7) Finally, mix the sausage sauce with the pasta and serve. Top each serving with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Serve with crusty garlic bread.


NOTE: I do it a little different. I don't cook the pasta or even start the water boiling until the sauce is made and simmering.  That way, while the pasta cooking, the sauce can thicken up a bit and it give it more flavor.  Also, I use Jimmy Deans (spicy sausage), and just brown that instead of the sausage links, but you can do either one I'm sure.  I just feel the ground sausage cooks in better with the sauce. :)  Other than that, I do everything else by the book!  ENJOY! Please, leave a note if you try it and let me know what you think!


INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:

Sautee' the Onion and Garlic with a little bit of Olive Oil...add the sausage...OH THE SMELLS!!!!

Add the Tomato Sauce, Diced Tomatoes and Heavy Cream....

I let it simmer for a good 25 minutes or so...

Boil your noodles!

Add the Basil about 10 minutes before serving and let it simmer and thicken up!

Pair it with your favorite bottle of Red Wine and Enjoy!

P.S. This is incredible left over!  It has so much flavor!