Tag: sausage

Sausage & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Categories Recipes1 Comment on Sausage & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Basil-y, garlicky, and cheesy, this Sausage & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta is packed with flavor!  It’s a dinner that’s highly customizable, so be sure to check out the variation possibilities!

Feeding a group:

Follow the instructions as they are!

Not feeding a group:

If you’re only feeding one or two people, and the entirety of the dish will not be consumed on the first night, I recommend keeping the components separate.

Make the batch of pesto and store it in the refrigerator.  For each new day:

  • Make the pasta fresh
  • Stir in a serving of the pesto from the fridge
  • Add in the sausages, cheeses, and sun-dried tomatoes

This is because pesto and sun-dried tomatoes do not always reheat well without getting an oily consistency, and it’s a meal that overall tastes ideal when fresh!  (It’s best not to microwave this one.)

Can you use store-bought pesto?

Feel free to experiment!  You can adjust the add-ins to taste based on what variety you use.  This recipe uses the basic ingredients of my Nut-Free Pesto.

Other variations:

This meal is super versatile if you have any dietary restrictions!

  • Gluten-free?  Use gluten-free pasta.
  • Dairy-free?  Use vegan cheeses.
  • Vegetarian?  There are tons of veggie sausages out there!

Main Supplies Needed:

  • A Food Processor
  • A Cheese Grater (unless the cheese is pre-grated)
  • A Large Pot
  • A Colander
  • 10 x 15 Baking Or Serving Dish (or equivalent)

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

PESTO

Equates to approx. 1 1/4 Cups if substituting store-bought

  • 3 Cups Fresh Basil Leaves, packed
  • 3 Cloves Garlic
  • 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 3/4 Cup Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Sea Salt and Black Pepper, to taste

PASTA

  • 1 lb Penne, or pasta of choice

ADD-INS

  • 12 oz Spicy Italian Chicken Sausages, cooked and chopped
  • 1 Cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes, blotted to remove excess oil, and chopped/halved
  • 4 oz Crumbled Feta
  • 1/4 Cup Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese

TO SERVE

  • Extra Sea Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
  • Optional – Red Pepper Flakes, to taste

Directions:

PESTO

Wash, dry, and de-stem the basil leaves

Peel the garlic cloves

Blend the basil leaves and garlic cloves in a food processor, then add in the olive oil and blend again until thoroughly mixed

Once smooth, pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the 3/4 cup parmesan

Add sea salt and black pepper to taste

Set aside

PASTA

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions

Drain in a colander and set aside

SAUSAGES

While the pasta is cooking, cook the sausages according to the package instructions

Chop into small bite-sized pieces

Set aside

SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Blot the tomatoes to remove the excess oil from the jar, and chop in half into bite-sized pieces

Set aside

ASSEMBLE

Add the pasta, sausage pieces, and sun-dried tomatoes into a 10 x 15 baking or serving dish (or equivalent)

Stir in scoops of the pesto until well-coated

Mix in the feta and the 1/4 cup parmesan 

Serve with extra sea salt, black pepper, and red pepper to taste

Enjoy!

3 Cheese Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Categories Recipes1 Comment on 3 Cheese Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Whether you’re in need of a fun dinner party appetizer or a flavorful light weeknight meal, these 3 Cheese Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms will bring the restaurant experience to your table!  My husband was inspired to create this recipe after sampling a variety of delicious stuffed mushrooms from local eateries and, luckily, his version is oh-so-easy to make at home!

The filling is crispy, cheesy, and herby, perfectly complimenting the mushrooms!

COOKING & STORAGE NOTE: If the mushrooms will not all be eaten the day of cooking, I highly recommend storing the stuffed, but uncooked, mushrooms sealed in the refrigerator.  The leftovers are much more delicious when they are baked fresh (rather than reheating the fully cooked version)!

Main Supplies Needed:

  • Paper Towels
  • A Cheese Grater
  • A Large Bowl
  • Knife + Cutting Board
  • A Baking Sheet
  • Aluminum Foil

Servings: 15 Mushrooms

Ingredients:

MUSHROOMS

  • 15 Large** Baby Bella Mushrooms, stems removed

FILLING

  • 1/4 Cup Shredded Asiago
  • 1/2 Cup Shredded Gruyere
  • 2 Tablespoons Finely Grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 4 Tsp Fresh Finely Chopped Tarragon
  • 2 Bilinski’s Mushroom Chicken Sausage Links, or equivalent, very finely chopped
  • 2 Tsp + 1 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided, plus extra for drizzling
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
  • Black Pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes

TO SERVE

  • Extra Fresh Tarragon & Finely Grated Parmesan, generous garnishes
  • Sea Salt, to taste

**While there is always a large variety of mushroom shapes and sizes, the starting weight of our batch of mushrooms before de-stemming was approximately 1.5 lbs.

Directions:

PREP

Preheat the oven to 400º

Wash, de-stem, and gently blot the mushrooms dry, setting them aside

Shred/grate the cheeses and place them into a large bowl

Add the breadcrumbs into the bowl

Chop the tarragon and add that into the bowl as well

CREATE THE FILLING

Stir together the cheeses, breadcrumbs, and tarragon

In a pan, heat the 2 tsp of olive oil over medium heat

Add the sausage bits and cook for 5 minutes

Add in the crushed garlic, and cook for one additional minute, stirring frequently

Let the sausage/garlic mixture cool

Stir the sausage/garlic mixture into the bowl with the cheeses, breadcrumbs, and tarragon

Then stir in the red pepper flakes along with a dash of black pepper

Stir in the 1 tsp of olive oil

STUFF THE MUSHROOMS

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the mushrooms on top

Drizzle each one with olive oil

Disperse the filling evenly inside the mushrooms, densely packing it into each one

Drizzle each one again with olive oil

BAKE

Bake for 18-20 minutes

When ready, they will be sizzling and the topping will have crisped

GARNISH & SERVE

Sprinkle each finished mushroom with a generous garnish of chopped fresh tarragon and finely grated parmesan

Serve warm

Add sea salt to taste if desired

Enjoy!

Have extra chicken sausages to use up?  They’re great in pasta with some of my Nut-Free Pesto!

Egg & Sausage Carbonara

Categories Recipes4 Comments on Egg & Sausage Carbonara

This Egg & Sausage Carbonara is a long-time family favorite!  Originally inspired by Rachael Ray’s 1998 version of her Spaghetti Carbonara: Pasta with Bacon and Eggs (found in the First printing of 30-Minute Meals), this easy pasta dish was made by my mom often when we were young, and still now when we all visit home.  Doubling the ingredients can make it a perfect choice for feeding a crowd, and for the vegetarians, it’s an easy swap to use your favorite veggie sausages instead!

Servings: About 4

Ingredients:

  • 4 Mild Or Spicy Italian Chicken Sausages Of Choice, such as Bilinski’s (Traditional Italian sausage can be used if preferred over chicken)
  • 1 Pound Spaghetti
  • 4 Minced Garlic Cloves
  • 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Plus Extra For The Sausages
  • 4 Eggs
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, To Taste
  • 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Black Pepper And Sea Salt, To Taste

Directions:

Slice the sausages into 1/2 inch pieces, and cook them with olive oil over medium heat until browned and crispy.  They can then be removed from the pan and set aside

Boil water for the pasta

Beat the eggs in a bowl and set aside

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions

While the pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, evenly pour in the 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and heat up the garlic on low heat (sprinkling in some red pepper flakes to taste)

Just before draining the finished pasta, take out about 3 spoonfuls of the boiling water and add it into your egg mixture

Drain and rinse the cooked pasta and add it to the skillet of garlic and olive olive, turning the heat up to medium

Coat the pasta evenly, then add in your cooked sausage pieces

Pour in the scrambled eggs, and toss it all together for about 1 minute, or until the eggs are cooked to your liking

Remove from heat, and mix in the parmesan and a generous amount of black pepper

Serve with extra cheese, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt to taste

Enjoy!

Ingredient recommendations linked!

For more eggy pasta, try my Egg, Spinach, & Mushroom Pasta!

Nut-Free Pesto

Categories Recipes2 Comments on Nut-Free Pesto

If you have nut allergies like me, you’ll know how difficult it can be to find a pesto that is nut-free. This homemade Nut-Free Pesto is so delicious that nobody will miss the pine nuts!

I personally recommend serving this pesto over your pasta of choice, with the addition of your favorite traditional, chicken, or vegetarian sausages. (We personally love this mushroom chicken sausage!) You can also add in some sautéed or roasted vegetables such as mushrooms, broccoli, or zucchini.

Vegan? No problem! Simply substitute the parmesan with a vegan alternative!

Other uses for pesto?

  • Add it to homemade pizzas
  • Drizzle it over eggs and toast
  • Spread a layer of it onto lunchtime sandwiches
  • Combine it with salad dressing
  • Toss roasted veggies in it
  • Drizzle it over baked potatoes
  • Make homemade bruschetta with pesto and mozzarella
  • Add it to lasagna
  • Make pesto salmon

Ingredients:

  • 3 Cups Fresh Basil Leaves, packed
  • 3 Large or 4 Small Cloves Garlic
  • 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 3/4 Cup Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Sea Salt and Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Wash, dry, and de-stem the basil leaves

Peel the garlic cloves

Blend the basil leaves and garlic cloves in a food processor, then add in the olive oil and blend again until thoroughly mixed

Once smooth, pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the parmesan

Add sea salt and black pepper to taste

Enjoy!

[Leftover pesto can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just give it a stir to remix the oil!]

Want more easy pasta dinners? Try my Egg & Sausage Carbonara or Roasted Brussels Sprout Pasta!