Creamy Sausage and Tomato Pasta

I've lost my mojo. I got pulled over today for speeding. I haven't gotten a ticket in probably 9 years. I was kind of surprised that I got pulled over because usually the police here are too busy chasing a person that's going 50 miles over the speed limit or trying to catch the murder suspect in the car up ahead. Yes folks...welcome to Florida. 

This morning I was on my way to meet friends for an early lunch when I was pulled over for mildly speeding. I tried to squeeze a work out in before so I had just showered and was rushing to meet them.

I've talked my way out of tickets in the past with a smiles and apologies. But between my wet hair, my protruding belly, and a car that smells like a Happy Meal - I figured the gig was up.  I abandoned all hopes of sweet talking my way out of this one before I had even rolled down my window for the officer.

He greeted me by looking at my son in the back seat and saying, "Well at least the baby is strapped in a car seat."

Yes, just because I'm going a little over the speed limit also means I'm probably letting my toddler ping pong aimlessly in the back of my car. I also let him lick batteries and stick metal objects in light sockets for fun.

So I'm stuck with a hefty fine or 6 hours of traffic school; both equally painful.

I liked this meal so much that I've made it twice in the past 2 weeks because it's easy and my family loves it. Something about the aroma of garlic and onion cooking on the stove always draws my family into the kitchen. I've had this recipe tucked away for a while. Wylie sent me this recipe; our husbands played football together at Ricks college forever ago. It's one of those easy, inexpensive recipes that you can't mess up. And since I may be forking over some money for a ticket, inexpensive is good. I know you are thinking that this is just a basic pasta recipe but sometimes the simplest ingredients combined in the right way are magical. Thanks Wylie!

Creamy Sausage and Tomato Pasta
Source: Wylie Tidwell
Makes 4-6 servings

4-5 Italian sausages (about 1 pound) found in the fresh meat department (I used spicy turkey Italian sausage; I really think a spicy sausage adds a lot of flavor)
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16 ounce) can Italian style diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
5-6 big leaves of fresh basil, chopped
12 ounces penne pasta (get a 16 ounce box and use 3/4 of it)
grated Parmesan for topping

Directions:
1) Cook the pasta in salted water al dente, according to package directions.
2) While pasta is cooking, brown the sausages and cut them into slices - little circles (I actually removed the casings and then browned and crumbled the sausages like you would ground beef).
3) Add the onions and garlic to the sausage and saute for a couple of minutes.
4) Pour in the entire can of diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce and heat through.
5) Pour in the cream and heat through. The longer you cook the sauce the thicker it will get so simmer it until it is the consistency you want.
6) Add the fresh basil and let it simmer for a few minutes.
7) Finally, mix the sausage sauce with the pasta and serve. Top each serving with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Serve with crusty garlic bread.