15 minute, seven ingredient pasta dinner

I love to cook, and I love to eat, but I have a repertoire of only about a dozen meals that I deem a) reasonably priced b) liked by everyone c) easy to prepare and d) good in my mouth and I tend to make those things over and over and over.

I'm always searching for and experimenting with things so that I can add one more interesting dish to that list.

This one fits the bill on all counts.

[Printable Recipe]

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 lb. pasta, any type

1 lb. smoked sausage, diced

1 8 oz. package of fresh sliced mushrooms

1 10 oz. box frozen spinach, thawed, drained

1 jar marinara sauce

1 jar alfredo sauce

1 8 oz. package shredded Italian blend cheese

WHAT YOU DO:

Boil your pasta according to package directions, 10-12 minutes until al dente.  While the pasta is boiling, dice the sausage, then in a large pot, quickly brown it.  Add the mushrooms and spinach and continue to cook over medium heat while the pasta finishes.  Drain and rinse the pasta, then stir it into the sausage/mushroom/spinach mixture.  Add both jars of sauce and the cheese.  Stir over medium heat until cheese is melted and it is warmed through.

Disclaimer:  Ok, maybe it really took 17 minutes instead of 15.  But that just doesn't have the same ring to it, now does it?  We will call it "creative license." 

I served it with a side of crusty bread that I had spread with my homemade garlic butter and called it a meal.

And it was good.  It was so, so good.