spice things up. [whole grain penne pasta w. turkey sausage & tomato-chili cream sauce]

My meal the other night was solely based off of ingredients I already had in the fridge and pantry. I considered looking up pasta recipes online, but figured I could probably whip something up on my own. I worked with the ingredients I had and added spices here and there when necessary.

I was extremely satisfied with the dish–the pasta was flavorful, with just enough kick from the chili powder. I made a boatload, so it was convenient when my roommate, Whitney, came home from work with no intention of cooking dinner. She approved!

Recipe:

1 package Aidells Italian style smoked chicken and turkey sausage with mozzarella cheese (4 sausages), sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

1 cup half & half

1 (28 oz.) can Wild Harvest Organic whole peeled tomatoes

3-4 roma tomatoes, diced

1 bag Trader Joe’s organic whole wheat penne pasta

1 cup homemade chicken broth

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

1 tsp. chili powder, plus more to taste

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 tbsp. dried parsley, plus more for garnish

Directions:

Slice the four chicken turkey sausages into 1/2-inch thick slices. Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add sausage slices and cook until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add onion and garlic and saute until onion is translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and half & half. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat and bring mixture to a simmer. Cook until mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

In a large pot of boiling water, cook penne pasta until somewhat al dente. Drain pasta and return to pot. Turn burner on medium heat; add sausage mixture and toss to coat pasta, then add homemade chicken broth. Season with salt, pepper and chili powder. Incorporate cheese and dried parsley into the pasta. Simmer pasta for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

Plate pasta and sprinkle parmesan cheese and parsley on top.