It was a productive weekend ’round these parts!
True to our word, Ben and I got up early on Saturday morning then got to cleanin’! While he tackled the basement, I emptied the closets in both my office and our guest bedroom, then attacked the hall closet. I will admit to opening it every single time I passed by to admire my handiwork. Gosh, de-cluttering is just good for the soul!
By the way, I must share this genius little tip I saw on Pinterest awhile ago – place all the pieces in a sheet set inside one of the pillowcases to keep them all together. So clever! Place a dryer sheet inside to keep them smelling fresh (that’s my addition.)
We worked from 8am until nearly 3pm then decided to reward our hard work with dinner out at our favorite Mexican restaurant – say it with me, Monterrey! – later that night with a couple of our besties. After waiting for them at the table for 15 minutes I texted to see what was up, and tragically learned they had gone to the restaurant’s other location. Damn, I thought that only happened in the movies! They had to go pick up their kids from their parents house, so we called it a night and decided to try again next weekend!
With sore and tired muscles from cleaning and de-cluttering on Saturday, Ben and I slept in this morning, then hightailed it over to to Hy-Vee for Sunday brunch. (Yes, I wear this fleece literally every. single. day. Send help. Nay, new clothes.)
I chose the standard scrambled egg plate with hash browns and bacon,
while my bearded companion enjoyed a ham & cheese omelet.
With EXTRA crispy hash browns. Lucky duck.
One of my girlfriend’s was in from out of town so I visited with her and another friend for a bit this afternoon (LOVE me some girl time) then made an early dinner of Spicy Sausage Pasta Skillet!Â
This is a stand-over-the-stove-shoveling-scorching-hot-food-into-your-mouth kind of meal. That is to say, it’s good. REAL good.
Smoked turkey sausage, shallots and garlic are sauteed then simmered with rotel, half & half, chicken broth and pasta until al dente. A sprinkling of salty parmesan cheese finishes off this easy, 1-skillet supper. (PS do you say supper or dinner? I say both, though I think supper is a mostly Midwest thing…)
Anywho! Start with 12oz smoked turkey sausage. This stuff is pre-cooked and ready to go. SUPER yummy too!
Slice the sausage into rings then add it to the biggest skillet you own (I used a 12″ skillet) with 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, and 2 chopped shallots, or 1 chopped small onion. Saute for 4-5 minutes, or until the sausage barely starts to curl. If you saute it too long, it’ll get rubbery. Next add 2 minced garlic cloves then saute for 30 more seconds.
Next add in 2 cups chicken broth, 10oz Rotel (name brand for diced tomatoes with green chili) and 1/2 cup half & half. The mild Rotel had the perfect amount of spice for me, but Ben added a few red chili pepper flakes to his bowl for an extra kick.
Bring the mixture to a boil then stir in 8oz cut gluten-free or regular pasta. I used rotini, but you could use shells, penne, rigatoni – just use whatever you’ve got.
Place a lid on top then simmer until the pasta is barely al dente, about 10 minutes. I gave mine a stir once or twice too.
Finally, add 4 cups baby spinach then use a pair of tongs to fold in and cook for 1 more minute – just enough time for the spinach to wilt.
Scoop the pasta into bowls then top with a hearty sprinkling of parmesan cheese!
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Spicy Sausage Pasta Skillet
Description
Spicy Sausage Pasta Skillet is a quick, weeknight skillet supper that's full of bold flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 12oz smoked turkey sausage, sliced
- 2 large shallots or 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 10oz Rotel
- 1/2 cup half & half
- pepper
- 8oz cut pasta (I used rotini)
- 4 cups baby spinach
- Parmesan cheese, for topping
Directions
- Heat oil in a large skillet (I used a 12" skillet) over medium-high heat. Add sausage and shallots then saute until sausage is slightly curled, about 5 minutes (do not over cook or sausage will become rubbery.) Add garlic then cook for 30 more seconds, stirring constantly.
- Turn heat up to high then add chicken broth, tomatoes, half & half, and pepper. Mixure may look curdled, but it's fine. Bring to a boil then add pasta and stir to combine. Place a lid on top then simmer for 10 minutes, or until pasta is al dente, stirring once or twice. Add spinach then stir to combine and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Serve topped with parmesan cheese.
Notes
Adapted from America's Test Kitchen, via Kevin & Amanda
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
This pasta was absolutely mouthwatering! Creamy, salty, spicy, satisfying, mm-mm good. There. I said it.
Plus, hello, bonus points for only needing 1 skillet – whee!
Hope you had a fantastic weekend, friends! Have a great week, too!
Amy 03.13.2013
Just made this for dinner tonight and it got rave reviews! AND a request to add it to the regulars list! Thanks so much!!
Florence 03.12.2013
Hi Kristin,
I went to 3 stores and couldn’t find Rotel. Would diced tomatoes with chili seasonings work?
Thanks!
Iowa Girl Eats 03.12.2013
Crazy! I would just use 3/4 of a 12oz can of petite diced tomatoes, and about 2oz canned chopped green chilies to replicate the flavor!
Tom 03.07.2013
What I like about your posts, well besides the great food ideas, is that your pans look used – not all clean and sparkly. It keeps it real.
Great blog!
Ohio Man Eats
Iowa Girl Eats 03.07.2013
HAHA – I know, kind of embarrassing, but you’re right – just keeping it real, I suppose!
Tom 03.07.2013
Not embarrassing at all. I’ve got some great Calophon pans that I paid a small fortune for that have served me well over the years, but they look used as they should.
Copper pans hanging over the island are just eye candy and a total waste of money.
Keep up the good work and, keep the pans :-)
OME
Devon Schmidt 03.05.2013
Kristin, I had plans to make something else, and then I read this, so I dropped everything and made the sausage spinach parm skillet! So yummy! Thanks for inspiring another meal.
Amber 03.05.2013
I made this last night and it was so delicious!! My boyfriend ate so much of it that there were no leftovers! Will definitely be making it again!! Thanks for sharing!!
Londa 03.05.2013
The only bad part about subscribing to your blog via email is that it’s so easy to read and I never click over to comment! Sorry! We LOVE all your great recipes! This one was especially amazing!!!! I substituted kale for the spinach and it worked great! Thanks!
Iowa Girl Eats 03.05.2013
Thanks so much for the kind words, Londa! :)
Kerry 03.08.2013
I did the same with the Kale and it was fantastic. My whole family LOVED this recipe!
Samantha 03.05.2013
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing :)
I’m from Northern Illinois & we say dinner, but we are also the only people I know who say pop instead of soda or “coke”. Haha!
Lindsay 03.05.2013
Made this dish last night and OMG! It was wonderful! It was a perfect blend of spicy, creamy and healthy! I had a 10 oz. box of farfalle so dumped the whole thing in, and ended up having to add another 1/2 cup of chicken broth and cook for an extra 8 minutes. This didn’t affect the outcome at all though! It didn’t even need the Parmesan cheese. And I love that its a one pot meal, though I may cook it in a dutch oven next time. It was almost too big for my 12″ skillet.
Kristie Laas 03.04.2013
I just wanted to say i made this dish tonight for dinner and i absolutely loved it… My kids , younger two thought it was a little spicy but still ate it and my oldest well we will see whem he gets home…hopefully he wont question the sausage with it being turkey. I know that i enjoyed every mouthful i put in my mouth.. I enjoy seeing the new recipes u share as well.
Lauren 03.04.2013
Made this tonight. Embarrassingly the 6 servings this recipe makes was eaten by just my husband and I – no left overs! Are we piggos? Nah, I think it’s just that good! Thanks for another great, fast, filling and tasty dish!
annie 03.04.2013
GOD BLESS YOU for wearing the same fleece everyday. I have the same thing. Black. Quarter zip. My best friend.
Jamie 03.04.2013
The Spicy Sausage Skillet turned out great with what I had in the pantry and fridge! Thanks for another yummy recipe. Substituted regular turkey smoked sausage plus a little red pepper, whole milk in place of half and half, and fire roasted tomatoes instead of rotel.
Carrie 03.04.2013
Hi Kristin!
I made your fresh apple cake for breakfast for my coworkers on Saturday, and it was a huge hit. Gone in 30 min! I used whole wheat flour and half the sugar, and it was just as delicious. Thanks for such a great recipe. :-)
Brenda 03.04.2013
I like this dish on several levels: one pot (major), spicy, creamy, turkey sausage, noodles, and spinach. I’m going to try this one!
I used to call the evening meal supper, but I found if I always called it dinner, nobody ever commented or made fun of it, so dinner it is.
Tasha @ Homemade 03.04.2013
I have been making this dish for sometime now and I have to say .. the easiest most delicious ever. Perfect weekday meal, only one pot and sooooo delicious. I never had turkey polska or sausage till I made this dish and I have been hooked ever since. Yum! Love your twist of adding the spinach … will definitely add it next time!
Tracy 03.04.2013
I wanted you to know I made your homestyle chicken & noodles for my family last night. It was a huge hit!! Well done!
Bree 03.04.2013
Oh Em Gee that looks positively mouth-watering. Pasta is my kryptonite!! I can’t wait to make this!
Sally 03.04.2013
This looks awesome – will definitely be making it for dinner this week! I’m on the East Coast, in VA near Washington, DC and we say “dinner”. However my grandmother, who was originally from Michigan, says “supper”, so I suppose it is a Midwest thing!
Love that Pinterest trick by the way!
Sara B. 03.04.2013
Going to 2 different restaurants has happened to us too – and ours happened to be Mexican restaurants as well. We were meeting up with friends at El Rodeo – they all went to the location in Clive and my husband and I were sipping margaritas in Urbandale :)
Also, I never thought twice about using the word supper, until a few years ago I was in Chicago and was made fun of for it! Haha. My other Iowa friend had to tell me they call it dinner out there :)
erin @hooleywithaz 03.04.2013
haha, we say dinner for the most part (here in MN, supper is used to describe lunch a lot for some reason, at least my grandma uses it for that). i make a version of this pasta a lot, i call it my ‘pasta creation meal’ because it’s just whatever spices i feel like, along with whatever i have in the fridhe!