Italian Pasta and Sausage Dinner

The ricotta adds a nice thick creamy backdrop to the hot sausage and spices with the cavatappi bring it all together. If you cannot get cavatappi elbow macaroni makes a good substitute.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 6  ounces cavatappi pasta
• 6  ounces hot Italian sausage
• 1⁄2 sweet onion, chopped
• 1  garlic clove, chopped
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (depending on how much heat you like)
•  salt and pepper
• 1  cup low-fat ricotta cheese
• 4  ounces tomato sauce
•  fresh parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. While pasta is cooking, in a medium pan crumb and cook sausage about 6 minutes; drain off grease and add chopped onion and garlic sautéing another 6 minutes or so till onion is tender.
3. Stir in basil, oregano, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper heat another one to two minutes.
4. Lower heat while adding tomato sauce and ricotta, stir while heating so ricotta blends evenly and does not burn.
5. Mix pasta and sauce together. Sever with fresh grated parmesan cheese and a green salad.