Penne Bolognese

VERY tasty & a bit healthier than a traditional bolognese. Hearty mix of vegetables, leaner meat, and pasta make this a great one-dish meal. This recipe is taken from Men's Health magazine (Apr '08) - I thought my DH was crazy when he asked me to look at a recipe from a men's magazine, but we all loved it! Even the picky teenagers :) I made this dish with a whole box of Penne pasta, which made the dish go a little farther for leftovers. Also, I used a Reduced Fat smoked turkey/pork sausage in place of the 'diced smoked turkey.' It was VERY tasty and I will probably stick with that when I make this again. I also added to the carrots, since I wanted to make this a one-dish meal and skip a side dish. I know most bolognese recipes usually have a thicker sauce, but because you're using milk (I used skim) in this recipe instead of cream, it's a little different. But in the end, there is no sacrifice of taste...just calories and fat!

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup turkey, smoked, diced
• 1  carrot, peeled and diced
• 1  stalk celery, diced
• 1  small onion, diced
• 1  lb  ground sirloin
• 2  garlic cloves, crushed
• 3⁄4 cup red wine
• 3⁄4 cup chicken broth
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 4  ounces  whole wheat penne
• 4  tablespoons lowfat mozzarella cheese, grated

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the smoked turkey, carrot, celery, and onion, and cook until lightly browned and very tender, about 10 minutes.
3. Add crushed garlic and ground sirloin to the pan and cook until beef is browned, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the wine, stirring well, and cook for 10 more minutes.
5. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, and milk; simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the pan.
6. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
7. Drain pasta and top it with the meat sauce.
8. Garnish with grated cheese.