Joybee, What's for Dinner? : Turkey Sausage

Friday, December 18, 2015

Turkey and Asparagus Skillet Pasta

A one dish meal of turkey Italian sausage and asparagus, with pasta in tomato sauce, plus cheese all cooked in only one skillet.

Both of my parents worked while I was growing up so when my sisters and I were old enough to use the stove we each had a night to prepare dinner for the family. Since we were not very experienced cooks my mom would buy easy to prepare meals like hamburger helper. This dish reminds me of hamburger helper, from my childhood, but it's so much better.

Like #HamburgerHelper but better | Turkey & Asparagus #SkilletPasta [Tweet this]

This is great for a busy night when you don't have a lot of time to spend on dinner. It's ready in about 30 minutes and it doesn't require much prep. Also, it's all cooked in the same skillet so you don't have much clean-up. My favorite thing about skillet pasta is that you don't have to move and lift a large pot of boiling water (I have balance problems so I have to use one hand to keep me balanced when I stand and I need both to lift and drain large pasta pots...hence my difficulty). I think skillet pasta tastes even better than pasta the usual way. As the pasta simmers in its sauce and water I think it picks up much more flavor than pasta just topped or tossed with sauce. This is my new favorite way to cook pasta.

#Dinnerin30: Turkey and Asparagus #SkilletPasta [Tweet this]

Turkey and Asparagus Skillet Pasta

Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

1 pound turkey Italian sausage
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes
2 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried minced onion
1/4-1/2 cup roasted garlic (or 2 Tbsp garlic powder)
1 bunch of asparagus, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 13 oz box of whole wheat rotini
3 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup parmesan (optional)
1 cup mozzarella (optional)

Brown the ground Italian sausage in a 12-inch skillet, over medium heat, until cooked through.

Meanwhile, add tomatoes, basil, onion, and garlic to blender and puree.

Once sausage is cooked pour in the olive oil and tomato puree. Add the asparagus and pasta then pour in the water (until pasta is just covered). Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed and pasta is just a little undercooked (not quite al dente).

Turn off heat, stir in cheeses (if using), cover, and let set for about 10 minutes. The last of the liquid will absorb into the pasta, pasta will be tender, and cheese melted.

Serve immediately.

Makes about 6 servings.

Enjoy.

For more pasta recipes check out:

Sun-dried Tomato Olive and Asparagus Pasta

Clam Linguine -

Mushroom Spinach

Tomato Pasta -

Linked to: Pretty Pintastic, J&J, Lou lou girls, whimsy, wonderful, Ticklemy Tastebuds, full plate, Freedom, Best of the Weekend

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Spinach Artichoke Quiche

Yum

A quiche packed with turkey sausage, cheese, spinach, and artichoke hearts.

I don't like eggs. I've tried them scrambled, fried, and boiled and I just don't love them. However, I love quiche. Probably because there is so much else added in you don't just taste the eggs. I often need eggs for something I'm baking and most cakes and breads only use a few so I end up with extra eggs. What is a person who doesn't like eggs do? I either hard boil them for my husband to have as an after workout snack or I make quiche. Quiche is one of my favorite egg dishes.

I don't like eggs, but I love quiche. [Tweet this]

Many people complain that quiche isn't filling (check out my rant on Quiche) but they must be eating the wrong quiche. This quiche is incredibly filling and delicious. It's packed with marinated artichoke hearts, spinach, Monterey Jack cheese, and turkey breakfast sausage. It's terrific and filling enough for any meal.

Quiche not filling? You're eating the wrong quiche. [Tweet this]

Spinach Artichoke Quiche

Ingredients:

1/2 pound ground turkey breakfast sausage
2 cups artichoke heart quarters
2 cups frozen spinach
5-6 eggs
1 cup milk
1-2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
2 Tbsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
2 Tbsp dried minced onions
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pie crust (I used Easy Pie Crust)

Preheat oven to 450F.

Line the pie crust with a double thickness of foil and bake at 450F for 8 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake for 3-5 minutes more. Remove crust from oven and lower oven temperature to 325F.

Brown and crumble the sausage over medium heat in a large fry pan until cooked through. Allow to cool and remove to a large bowl.

Thaw spinach and squeeze out excess moisture. Place spinach and artichokes in a food processor and pulse a few times until roughly chopped (or chop them by hand). Add to the bowl of turkey.

To the bowl with turkey, spinach, and artichokes add the eggs, milk, and the rest of the ingredients. Beat until well mixed then pour into prepared pie crust.

Bake at 325F for 45-60 minutes until set and browned on top (a knife inserted in the center will come out clean).

Remove from oven and let cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Makes 1 8-9 inch quiche. Serves 6-8.

Enjoy.