sausage pasta bake

sometimes you just gotta get something on the table.  nothing fancy, just something to feed us and keep that temptation to order in at bay.  this recipe did the trick for us the other night.  i liked how easy it was to make, not to mention how cost effective.  i also liked that i could tweak a few ingredients to boost the overall nutritional value.  i used my last container of chickpea and veggie pasta sauce, and whole wheat pasta and bread crumbs.  i would have gone for low-fat cheese as well, but we had some old cheddar in the fridge that needed to be used up, so that'll have to wait til next time.  i'm not sure there's any way to make the sausage better for you... but i take comfort in the fact that one serving probably contains about a third of a regular sausage anyways... so it's not too bad.  it was really tasty.  i just might have to try this one out at our next potluck!


Sausage Pasta Bake 
adapted from:  Sobey's Inspired Magazine, Fall 2010
prep time:  10 minutes  cook time: 25 mins
serves 6

1 package of rigatoni, penne, or whatever floats your pasta boat - i always buy whole wheat pasta and am excited to see that it's now no more expensive than regular pasta
3 1/2 cups pasta sauce - i used my own, if you use store bought, try to find something with as many natural ingredients and veggies as possible (if you can't read the ingredient list, put it back on the shelf!)
2 sausages - the recipe called for spicy ones, so by all means, spice it up if you like
1/3 cup fresh basil, or 1 about tbsp dried
1/4 cup fresh parsley, or 1 about tbsp dried
2 tbsp bread crumbs - again, whole wheat if you've got em
1/3 cup cheese - the recipe called for bocconcini - i have no idea what that is.  i used cheddar because we had some, mozzarella would likely be divine.  i grated mine, you could lay it in slices if you like.

preheat the oven to 425.  cook the pasta according to directions until just barely done.  drain well, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.  pour pasta into an oiled 9x11 baking dish.

in a separate bowl, combine pasta sauce, pasta water, 1/2 basil leaves, and all the parsley (i didn't do the pasta water thing because my sauce was already a little soupy.  let me know if you try it though).  pour evenly over the pasta.

squeeze sausages out of their casings and slice thinly.  scatter over top of pasta.  sprinkle with bread crumbs and cheese and bake for about 15 minutes or until bubbly.  add the rest of the basil leaves, serve and enjoy!