TJs Basil Pesto Sausages w/PASTA Arrabiata & Arugula

Sausage, Arugula & Pasta Arrabiata

Colin had his finger pinched in a door at school today...had to take him with me to TJs. He chose dinner tonight. Sausage, but "not too spicy mom, you try it first".

Just looked up the exact name of the sausage...It's "Sweet Basil Pesto Smoked Chicken & Turkey Sausage".

I sear them in a small Le Creuset in a little olive oil. Once again I use my ears. With the heat on high and the lid on the pot, I listen for the wild popping to begin, then I turn off the heat and listen again for the popping to slow so I can lift the lid and turn them over and do it on the other side. I remove the sausages to a plate and then to the pot I add a pinch of red chile pepper flakes and the rest of the can of San Marzano tomatoes from yesterday's meal - that I have refrigerated in a glass jar (apple sauce jars rock!) and taken the hand blender to the contents to puree...right in the jar!

Same thing as yesterday (yes, I'm in a pasta kind of mood this week!)...heat a pot of water to boil, add in salt. I used De Cecco Fusilli...Cook about 3 minutes less than the box suggests. Add to the sauce and cook so the pasta absorbs the sauce. On a bed of arugula with salt, pepper, olive oil and red wine vinegar - plate up the sliced sausages and pasta with shave parmigiano reggiano on top.

ON PASTA: I was talking to my friend the other day and was able to validate the superiority of De Cecco brand pasta. She is Italian and she agreed and said it was because the De Cecco is still made in Italy, Barilla is made here in the States (I'm a big believer in buying local, but can't do it if the product is inferior!). I used to like Barilla, but have found it doesn't hold up as well as De Cecco - all about Italian ingredients. Don't get me started on a lot of the store brands...I find them inedible. I only buy De Cecco now and think it's worth the price difference...It will be double (at least) the price of Barilla.