Sausage, Zucchini, Spinach And Tomato Pasta

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 5 ounces fresh spinach (i buy the pre-washed and ready to eat spinach)
• 1 medium zucchini (chopped)
• salt (to taste)
• pepper (to taste)
• 1 1/2 lbs italian turkey sausage (casing removed)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (1 teaspoon if you like it hot!)
• 1 (15 ounce) can italian stewed tomatoes (drained and chopped)
• 1 1/2 cups fat-free half-and-half
• 12 ounces whole wheat penne (or pasta of your choice)

Recipe

• 1 in a large 12 inch deep fry pan or skillet, cook spinach and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. cook until spinach is wilted (approximately 5 minutes).
• 2 transfer spinach to cutting board to cool. when cool, chop spinach.
• 3 in hot skillet, add the other tablespoon olive oil.
• 4 add chopped zucchini.
• 5 salt and pepper, to taste.
• 6 cook until lightly browned (about 3 minutes). set zucchini aside.
• 7 turn heat to medium high.
• 8 add sausage and crushed red pepper.
• 9 cook until browned (about 7 minutes). drain if you like; i don't because turkey sausage is generally pretty lean.
• 10 add tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, and half and half.
• 11 cook on medium high for ten minutes; reduce heat to low.
• 12 meanwhile, boil water and cook pasta.
• 13 drain pasta (do not rinse) and add to sausage mixture.
• 14 cook on low for about five minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.