The other way to get to forks. Yes it involves sausage.

So several people have suggested that the way to get to Forks is on your knees.
I have another idea that also involves sausage.  Only this time we're going to cook it.  Seriously, Mr CC will agree to almost anything if I ply him with this recipe.

It's a penne pasta dish with a cream sauce with sausage and sundried tomatoes. Yum!


So first you're going to take some sausage - I usually get mild italian, but go nuts and get hot italian if you want. Heh - that sounded dirty.

Mini-e did not approve of the smell.

Go ahead and take of the casting.  Eww - I know.  Just do it. mmmkay?

Now finely dice 1 medium onion and 3-4 (minimum) cloves of garlic

Poor mini-e couldn't take the onions.

Take out a really big skillet.  An put in a few tablespoons of olive oil.

 This is TOO much olive oil.  Swear and pour some out.

Heat the frying pan until the oil is shimmering and saute the onions and garlic 2-3 min.

So helpful.

Go ahead and toss the sausage in and break it up as much as possible.

When the sausage is almost cooked you can throw in 3 cups of dried pasta, 2 cups of chicken stock and 1/2c of wine.  We're not making penne a la vodka so go easy on the booze. That's the last time I'll ever say that for a recipe.

Also can we chat about chicken stock? This recipe - can easily end up WAY too salty.  So if you're using canned stock water it down a touch.  Using the powdered shit?  Buy the reduced salt and use more water.  Using stock you made?  Fuck you - I'm jealous that you have the time to make it.

Oh but that's not all!  You get to toss in 1/2cup or a handful of sundried tomatoes and half a cup of 18% cream.  It's only half a cup.  You can do it.

Now see how there's pasta sticking up above the cream/stock.  This is bad. You need to make it all purdy and even otherwise you end up with semi-cooked pasta. Ew. So even that out and cover the pan and crank the heat till it boils.  And once it boils you'll be going "oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck!  The cream is curdled." No it hasn't - okay it has - but just turn the heat down and stir every couple of minutes. This is crucial.  Penne only needs to be cooked for 8-9 minutes

Whilst you're waiting for that pasta too cook - it's time to get some baby spinach ready.  Apparently you need about a 5 oz bag.  I just grab like 4-5 handfuls.  Don't like spinach - what the fuck is wrong with you? It's like the only nutritious part of this meal. Seriously. It won't looks as nice without it either.

The problem with baby spinach? It's got those little stems.  Yuck. I made this once without taking them off.  Totally ruined the dish.  Remove them will ya?

He got very frustrated that he could bring his arms together to pull the stem off.

So now you've got a nice little pile of baby spinach, and about 4 minutes left for the penne to be cooked.   The liquid should be thickening and be about half gone.  This would be a good time to see if you need to add more liquid. And by liquid I mean booze.  Go ahead and add a tiny splash.

Now put the spinach into the pan and fold it into the pasta.  Try and get as much folded in as you can. Cover up the pan again and let it cook for a few minutes

So while that's on the go we'll need some parmesan cheese.  The real shit.  Not that crap you buy in a can.  Just a lil sliver will last a long time.  It tastes so much better.

Really strong? Perhaps, but mini-e lacks the dexterity to pick up cheese. He got all huffy when I suggested he couldn't do it.

You'll want to grate about half a cup.

So now the pasta's 99% cooked (go on and taste a few, I won't tell) the spinach is mainly wilted and the sauce is really thick.  You'll want to add most of the cheese to the pasta and give it a good stir.

Dish it out onto a plate add a sprinkle or two more of parm and then you're done!

Enjoy!