Ziti with Sausage and Broccoli

With everyone busy with the holidays including myself you just have to prepare meals that are quick.  In doing this good nutrition does not have to be pushed by the wayside.  Pasta dishes are easy to make , fast and in most cases nutritious.  This is a family favorite of ours and it is taken from one of my favorite cookbooks Southern Living’s  Ultimate Quick and Easy Cookbooks.  I think that you will find it very tasty  and easy to work into your busy schedule.

It seems that lately I have been preparing a lot of dishes that have Italian Sausage.  But, I love it.  It is so flavorful and when on sale as last week it is even better.  This dish  needs to be served in individual pasta bowls because you will want every drop of the sauce.  Any leftovers  are still delicious, but I have found that you need to add a little liquid before reheating them.  The pasta will absorb the liquid as it sits.  It is a one dish meal that you and your family are  going to enjoy!

Here is the recipe with all the step-by-step photos to follow.

Ziti with  Sausage and Broccoli

• 1 pound of Italian Sausage
• 8 ounces uncooked ziti
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper (  I like more)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 (141/2- ounces) or 1 large can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cut sausage diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices.  Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat until browned: remove sausage , and set aside.  wipe skillet with paper towels.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli during last 5 minutes of cooking time.  Drain.

Cook garlic and red pepper in oil in skillet, stirring constantly, until lightly browned; add tomatoes, and cook until thoroughly heated.  Remove from heat: keep warm.

Toss pasta and broccoli gently with sausage, tomato mixture, and cheese.  Serve immediately.  Yields 4 large servings.

Trim Broccoli

Wash Broccoli

Get your water boiling for pasta and broccoli. Start sausage!

Cut up sausage. Casing has been left on. Can be removed.

Ready to drain on paper towel.

I did not use a nonstick skillet because I like all good stuff that sticks to the pan.  It gives it good flavor.  The pan will be deglazed when you add the tomatoes.  Yum! Yum!

Cook garlic and pepper flakes in olive oil

Adding tomatoes and deglazing pan

Cook ziti according to package and add broccoli the last 5 min. of cooking time

Cooking broccoli last 5 min. of cooking time for pasta

Simmering sausage and tomatoes

Drain ziti and broccoli and add to sausage and tomatoes

When serving add parmesan cheese

Happy Cooking,

The Teacher Cooks