Cavatelli & Chicken Sausage with Cheese
a recipe that serves 3-4 by
Ingredients:
1-2 bags of frozen cavatelli (in the frozen pasta section of supermarket, it is a pasta I prefer 1 bag for 3-4 people)
7 to 8 links of chicken sausage (preferably Gourmet sausages with mozzarella and basil, or you can use any gourmet or supermarket chicken sausage with parmesan and parsley) slice in 1/2 inch slices
2 to 3 cloves of garlic minced
1/2 medium onion chopped
2 medium to large chopped plum tomatoes
1 medium zucchini sliced in 1/2 inch slices
1 medium yellow squash sliced in 1/2 inch slices
1 10 oz to 16oz bag of fresh spinach
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of dry basil or 1 teaspoon of fresh basil
3 tablespoons of grated cheese (Locatelli or Romano)
3 to 4 tablespoons of canola oil
Directions:
1. place sliced chicken sausage in large skillet over medium heat and evenly brown; then set aside in a warm spot (like on stove top).
2. put up large pot of water to boil to cook cavatelli in.
3. add 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil in same skillet, add garlic and onion and cook until browned (3-5 min), add zucchini, squash, basil, pepper and tomatoes stir well, cover and cook on medium heat 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes (zucchini is softening and browning slightly).
4. add spinach, and only if needed add 1 tablespoon of oil, cover, lower heat to low and stir occasionally. cook for 6-9 min. until spinach is soft and shrunk, return sausage to skillet-mix well, leave on stove put shut off flame.
5. add cavatelli to boiling water and cook as directed. when cooked strain and add 1 tablespoon of oil to pot and mix the cavatelli with it, then add sausage mix and grated cheese, mix well and serve.
Notes:
*If either, the zucchini or yellow squash are not available then use 2 of the one that is available.