Sausage and Pepper Skillet Saute

I love those moments in the kitchen when you throw some ingredients together and magic happens!  This is one such dish.  One night, four or five years ago, I went to the fridge after work, trying to figure out what to make for dinner.  There wasn't a lot to choose from.  I had kielbasa, green peppers, onion, and garlic.  So I went to my pantry and there was a can of diced tomatoes that I had accidently purchased the week before, and a half of a box of pasta.  I decided to go for it and what was birthed from this experiment, is probably one of my favorite dishes to date! 

It's so simple, yet is full of flavor.  I know you are going to love it! 

Sausage and Pepper Skillet Sauté:

*Prep Time:  10 min.  *Cook Time:  16 min. *Difficulty:  Easy  *Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
• 1/2 lb. of penne pasta
• 1 link of kielbasa
• 1 green pepper, julienned
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2-3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. basil
• Salt and pepper to taste



As always, when making any kind of pasta dish, the first thing you

want to do it get your pot of water on to boil.

Make sure you salt the water.  Why?  Because this is

the only time you will have to actually season your pasta. 

While you are waiting for the water to come to a boil,

take that time to do all of your prep work.

Chop your vegetables, slice the kielbasa, open your tomatoes, pre-measure any ingredients.

This will make cooking much simpler and faster!

Once everything is prepped and ready to go, place your skillet

over medium-high heat, and allow to get hot.

Once hot, add the olive oil to the skillet.

Now place the kielbasa in a single layer across the pan.

Give them a couple minutes to brown and...

Flip! 

Allow a couple minutes to brown on the opposite side then...

Remove from the skillet and set to the side.

By this time your water will be at a nice rolling boil.

Add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the box.

Here it said 12 minutes to al dente. 

Now to your hot skillet, add your onions.

Give them about a minute to start to brown before you...

Add the green peppers and...

Garlic.  Give them a few minutes to cook and caramelize before you...

Add the basil.

The reason I add the basil here instead of in the sauce is because

this basil has been sitting on a shelf for a while, and it needs

the heat to kind of reignite it's flavor!

Now you will add the tomatoes juice and all.

Add the brown sugar.

This is the secret ingredient.

It leaves the sauce with this sweet yet tangy something

that has you saying "What is that?"

Have I mentioned I am getting hungry?

Now it is time to add your salt and pepper.

Remember add a little at a time and taste. 

You will know when it is right.

(PS-I always use kosher salt while cooking)

Now you can return the kielbasa to the skillet.

Let the sauce simmer while you wait for the pasta to finish cooking.

Once the pasta is finished cooking, drain off the water, and add to the skillet.

Toss everything together and there you have it! 

This dish is simple and inexpensive, yet good enough to serve to company,

 and quick enough to make for a weeknight meal!  I know your family will love it and I would LOVE to see your pictures on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/thekitchenwife!

As always...

Happy Reading, Happy Eating, and Happy Living,

~The Kitchen Wife~