Penne with Sausage

Pictured here with portobello mushroom and light sauce

Difficulty: Easy to Medium

After having my first child, food changed for me.  One of the first things that changed for me was spaghetti.  I didn't enjoy eating spaghetti any longer and give up on it but it is one of my husband's favorite cheap and fast go to meals.  After adding more organic foods to the family's meals, my husband re-approached the red sauce because I was buying organic canned tomatoes to make bun rieu/crab or shrimp dumpling noodle soup.

After trying this recipe, you will never need to give Ragu and Prego your money again.  It is simple, flavorful, and it is delicious.  I have tried this recipe with conventional canned tomatoes and it isn't as good.  Spend the extra dollar on the organic because it is worth it.

Red sauce:
1- 28 oz can organic whole peeled tomatoes
8 leaves sweet basil, chopped or chiffonade
2 cloves crushed and minced garlic
1/2 medium onion, diced

Sausage:
1/2 lb ground pork, turkey, or chicken
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp fennel seed
1/3 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp thyme
or
3 sweet Italian sausage without the casing

1/2 box penne

Prepping the sausage:
Start by making the seasoning for the sausage.  Add the dry ingredients together and blend it well.  Add the ground meat and mix it well.  Make sure that the spices is evenly distributed throughout the meat.  Set aside and allow the mixture to set for at least 1 hour.

Prepping the canned tomatoes:
Pour the contents of the canned tomato in a large bowl.  With very clean and dry hands, crush the tomatoes with your hands. You don't want large chunks.  Aim at tearing each whole tomato into 4-6 pieces.

Prepare the pasta based on the package instruction.  Do not rinse the pasta after you finish.

Heat up some oil in a large stock pot, enough to cover the bottom of the pot.  Make sure that your sausage is near by. Cook the garlic and diced onions until the onions are soft.  Add the sausage.  Use a spoon to break up the sausage into small pieces.  Pour the tomato sauce in and lower the heat.  Allow for the sauce to simmer for about 5-7 minutes.  Finish the sauce off with the sweet basil.  Add the pasta to the sauce and combine it.  Add cheese if you desire.