A Lifestyle Blog by Mwahaki King

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Thursday 8 December 2016

What's for Dinner? ~ Quick & Easy Weeknight Pasta Dish



Recently, I shared a recipe for homemade meatballs in marinara sauce. I know some people don't enjoy spending a lot of time in the kitchen, but for me chopping up parsley, rolling the meatballs in the palm of my hand and making the sauce from scratch is great fun. However, I will admit that all that jazz can be far more time-intensive than I can always manage on a weeknight. So, if I end up with a weeknight craving for pasta I often turn to this meal. It's an updated version of a cheesy pasta dish my mum used to whip up after I got home from school. Now, I will admit that this isn't one of my healthier options, but it reminds me of home. It's delicious and comforting and at the end of the day life is all about balance.



With these ingredients, the sauce should comfortably serve 4 (or 2 with leftovers for lunch or another night's dinner) and you can serve it over your favourite pasta -- mine is Farfalle (bow tie pasta)!


INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 tbsp Original Blend Salt Free Mrs. Dash OR Grace Vegetable Seasoning (If neither is available you can also substitute with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp garlic powder)
1 tsp Black pepper
¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)
2 tbsp fresh Parsley, divided
1 tbsp fresh Oregano
1 tbsp fresh Basil
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 cup of sliced yellow peppers
A jar of your favourite tomato sauce - I used Prego's Roasted Garlic and Herb Sauce (but I'm also a fan of the Tomato, Basil and Garlic one as well)
A package of Whole Foods Andouille Sausage
Pepper Jack cheese (if you are not a fan of spicy things, you can substitute Pepper Jack for your favourite cheese like Cheddar or Monterey Jack)


Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Chop sausages, place them into the saucepan and cook for approximately 4 minutes on a medium heat. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking. Add onions to the saucepan and cook until tender, approximately 3 more minutes.





Add tomato sauce, garlic cloves, Mrs. Dash/Grace Vegetable Seasoning, black pepper, basil, oregano, and 1 1/2 tbsp parsley. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. 

While it is simmering, cut 6 slices of Pepper Jack cheese. Place yellow peppers and 3 slices of cheese into the saucepan. Cover and cook on a low heat. 

Stir occasionally to avoid the cheese sticking to the pan. Cook for another 2 - 3 minutes.







Place remaining 3 slices of cheese on top of the sauce and remove from heat once cheese starts to melt (after approximately 10 - 30 seconds)




Serve over pasta, use remaining parsley as garnish and enjoy!







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