Turkey Sausage, Arugula and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

It was Monday. I had planned the week's menu. I made a grocery list and pulled some coupons together. I was ready to start my week and head to the store. My daughter woke up that morning with a fever and grocery shopping was going to have to wait.

I had to regroup. There was plenty of food in the refrigerator, freezer and pantry, but my grocery list was stuff that I needed to pull my planned meals together. So I turned to the web and I went to MyRecipes.com and searched a few ingredients that I had on hand to see what I could find.

This recipe is a good find. I had all of the ingredients and it is an easy, quick, delicious dish.

Turkey Sausage, Arugula, and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
adapted from Food & Wine

• 1 lb turkey sausage, casings removed
• 12 reconstituted sun-dried tomato halves - it is cheaper to buy the non-oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, simply re-hydrate by soaking the tomatoes in warm water for about a minute
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2/3 C olive oil
• 1 large bunch of arugula - cut into thin strips. My arugula was from my CSA. It is one of the ingredients that I searched. I wasn't in the mood for a salad. You could easily substitute spinach.
• 1 lb pasta - I had rigatoni on hand

Boil water in a large pot and cook pasta. Drain.

While the pasta is cooking, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper in a food processor. Blend until well combined. Stream the olive oil into the processor while the machine is running.

At this point your kitchen will smell absolutely divine.

Heat about 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan and add the turkey sausage. Break into tiny pieces and brown until it is cooked through.

When sausage is done cooking, add chopped arugula and mix together.

In a very large bowl, toss the turkey and arugula mixture, cooked pasta and the sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. Serve warm.

If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan and prepare to be knocked out!

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This post is linked to:

• Frugal and Healthy Recipes at 5 Dollar Dinners
• Tasty Tuesday at Beauty and Bedlam
• Tempt my Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
• Tuesdays at the Table at All the Small Stuff
• Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
• Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum
• Friday Food at MomTrends
• Food on Friday at Ann Kroeker