Ridiculously Easy Sausage Pasta Toss

A great way to use up sausage if you don’t feel like firing up the grill.

Ingredients:

8 ounces chicken or turkey sausage (fully cooked kind, such as Aidell’s or Hillshire Farm)
1 eight ounce package of sliced mushrooms
1 cup of chopped canned artichokes (in water, NOT canned/jarred in oil, I use Trader Joes brand)
2 cups fresh baby spinach
¼ cup chopped olives (kalamata or black)
4 ounces whole wheat, 2 cups cooked pasta (penne or fusili works well)
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed garlic (optional)
parmesan cheese (optional for topping)

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile slice the sausage into 1/4 inch thick rounds, and brown them in a large pan with the olive oil on medim-high heat for a few minutes. Add the mushrooms and artichokes and heat for another few minutes, then remove from heat until pasta is cooked. Once the pasta is done add it to the pan, plus the spinach, olives, basil and garlic and warm through on medium heat for 2-4 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired.

Makes about 4 servings

Serving size: ¼ of recipe Calories 230 Protein 12 g Carb 25 g Fiber 3 g Sugars 2 g Fat 9 g saturated fat 2 g Sodium 610 mg