October 19, 2011

One Pot Pasta with Peppers and Sausage

Sometimes after a long day you really don’t want to cook. As in really don’t want to cook. As in, don’t even want to see a pot.

I get that.

Sometimes I don’t want to cook, and then I don’t want to order anything, either. I feel like a failure every time I succumb to laziness and send Jon out for burgers, because I know I could have made something. I KNOW I could have. It would have been cheaper, it would have been better. And more than likely, it would have taken less time.

Especially if it’s a meal like this.

Sure, everyone knows it’s quick and easy to throw together a pot of spaghetti, the old pasta standby. But spaghetti isn’t the only pasta dish you can make in less than 30 minutes. You have options!

I was recently contacted by Dreamfields to try my hand at creating a one-pot meal that uses their pasta. I’ll be honest – I hadn’t heard of them. Maybe you haven’t either. But I’m glad I do now.

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You may not know this about me, but I have PCOS, which is a fertility disease related in ways to diabetes. No, I don’t have diabetes, but my body has an issue with carbs and insulin, and how it deals with things like pasta. I should limit my intake of it, but let’s be straight here…this household can’t and won’t be giving up pasta any time soon. Luckily, Dreamfields can and does offer an alternative to giving up something I love. Dreamfields Pasta is a high-fiber, low digestible carb alternative to traditional pasta, that offers twice the amount of fiber (5 grams) as traditional pasta and only 5 grams of digestible carbs per serving. This makes it a better choice for anyone who is looking to add more fiber to their diet; following a low-carb diet; or watching their blood sugar due to diabetes or pre-diabetes. That would be me.

You should also know that I refuse to just eat something that’s better for me and sacrifice the taste. I will NOT. I want my food to TASTE good. You’ve seen the food on my blog, right? Yeah, we eat. So believe me when I tell you this pasta is excellent. It tastes nothing like a “healthy” or “diet” pasta. It cooks up to a perfect texture, and the taste is just what you would want it to be. So, give it a try, I think you’ll like it!

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And now, without further ado, I give you my One Pot Pasta with Peppers and Sausage. Enjoy!

One Pot Pasta with Peppers and Sausage

Rating: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients

1 box Dreamfields Penne Rigate Pasta
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons butter
3 medium sized green or purple peppers, chopped
1 package Johnsonville 3 Cheese Italian Chicken Sausage
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 Heirloom or Hothouse tomatoes, chopped

Instructions

In a 5 quart heavy bottomed pot, bring water and salt to a boil before adding pasta. Cook to al dente, as indicated in directions on the box. Drain and set aside.
In the same pot used for the pasta, heat butter over medium heat. When melted stir in sausage and peppers. Cook for 5 minutes, then add in cream, cheese, and seasonings. Bring to a boil and allow to thicken slightly. Stir in reserved pasta. When heated, top with chopped tomatoes. Taste and season accordingly. Garnish with parmesan if desired.

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