Cooking with R&R: Sausage, Spinach & Pasta ‘Swill’


This dish was ‘invented’ by my mother. It was created around the time I was finishing high school, my brother was finishing grade school and my sister was ALWAYS doing something. The whole lot of us would never be home at the same time for a real dinner. She would make this ahead of time and leave it on the stove for everyone to grab a bowl when they had a chance. It also keeps well for a few days in the fridge. This dish is quick and can be made in 15-30 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 Package Hot Italian Sausage (5 links)
1 Package Frozen Spinach (box or bag)
1 Package Tri Color Fusilli Pasta (spirals)
1 Can (14 oz) Chicken or Beef Stock
2 tbsp Minced Garlic (heaping)
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Olive Oil
Large skillet about 2 inches in depth.
2-4 quart pot boiling water

Preperation:

  1. Put some olive oil into the skillet
  2. Fill the pot with water, add some pinches of kosher salt and start it boiling
  3. Take the skin off of the sausage, and then cut/break into pieces. I can usually get 5 to 6 pieces per sausage link. Put the pieces into the skillet
  4. Sprinkle the pieces liberally with the garlic and onion powder
  5. Turn to med high and begin to brown
  6. Once the sausage begins to brown, drop in the minced garlic
  7. Once completely browned, add in the spinach
  8. Once the spinach begins to thaw and turn dark green, add the stock
  9. Once again sprinkle liberally with garlic and onion powder
  10. When the mixture begins to simmer, turn the heat down to med low
  11. At this point the water should be boiling so add the pasta
  12. Cook pasta until just al dente
  13. Drain the pasta and return to pot
  14. At this point, combine the pasta and the sausage/spinach mixture
  15. Serve in bowls with a good helping of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese on top

How it comes out:
DELICIOUS!

Final Thoughts:
This dish, with the spicy sausage and the heartiness of seasoned stock, makes for a good winter dish to help warm you up at the end of a cold day. Add to the fact that the dish can be made quickly, it makes a great last minute ‘what’s for dinner’ idea. I highly recommend this.

  1. #1 by Sister on January 25, 2009 6:52 pm - 6:52 pm

    This is a classic Hart family dinner…and its delicious!! =)

  2. #2 by The Wife on January 28, 2009 9:39 am - 9:39 am

    I second that!

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