Barbara's Pasta with Sausage & Cream Sauce

INGREDIENTS

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• 1 lb orecchiette pasta

• 1 lb sweet Italian sausage

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• ½ cup diced onion

• ½ cup diced red pepper

• ½ cup diced yellow pepper

• 3 garlic cloves minced

• ½ tsp salt

• 15 oz can diced tomatoes (drained)

• 2 – 3 cups heavy cream

• ½ cup chopped parsley

• hot red pepper flakes to taste (optional)

• 2 cups baby spinach (optional)

• Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

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1. Cook pasta al dente.

2. Remove casing from sausage and cut into bite sized pieces.  Brown sausage in a large skillet. Remove and drain grease from skillet.  

3. Add olive oil to skillet and heat.  Add onions and peppers and saute for 5 minutes or until onion is translucent. Add garlic and salt; saute for 30 seconds (add red pepper flakes now if you like some heat).  

4. Add tomatoes and cream; bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened.  

5. Add in sausage, cooked pasta, parsley and spinach and stir until spinach wilts.

6. Top with freshly grated parmesan.  

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