Spicy Italian Rustica Pasta

A few months ago I entered 2 recipes in a contest hosted by Johnsonville sausage.  Grand prize was a culinary trip to Italy and the 5 finalist received a large gift basket chock-full of culinary goodies.

Sadly I didn't win anything.  However, I do have a couple recipes to share with you.  Here is the first recipe the second I will share at a later date.

Johnsonville  Spicy Rustica Italian Pasta

1 box Penne Pasta, cooked according to box directions under cook by 3 minutes

1 orange bell pepper - chopped

1 yellow bell pepper - chopped

1 onion - chopped

8 medium crimini mushrooms - sliced thick

3 cloves garlic - chopped

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil - divided

1 package Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausage - sliced into bite size pieces

2 heaping Tbsp all purpose flour

1/4 cup white wine

2 cups chicken broth

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper

1 1/2 tsp cajun seasoning

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1 cup parmesan cheese - divided

1/2 cup whipping cream

3/4 cup Italian Style bread crumbs

2 Tbsp butter - cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook Penne Pasta according to box  under cooking by 3 minutes, drain and place back into same pot you boiled pasta. Saute bell peppers and onion in olive oil until tender in a skillet, remove from skillet. Add remaining olive oil and saute mushrooms for approx 8 to 10 minutes until tender, remove from skillet.  Cook Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausage in same pan until it has a nice crust but still a touch of pink (it will finish cooking in the oven) add to cooked pasta.  In the same skillet, saute garlic for several minutes, add flour stirring for 3 minutes,  add the white wine getting all the bits off the bottom of the skillet.  Add the chicken broth and half the parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, cajun seasonings and red pepper flakes, whisk for several minutes, add whipping cream continue to whisk until thickened.  Add back in the bell peppers, onions and mushrooms cook for 5 minutes add to pasta and sausage.  Place pasta mixture in a casserole dish.  Mix bread crumbs and remaining parmesan cheese and sprinkle on top of pasta, place butter pieces on top of bread crumbs. Bake for 40 minutes.

Until Next Time,
Pam