Pasta with Broccoli and Sausage

This was actually going to be today's Recipe of the Day, however I realized that Matt had brought home an extra head of broccoli the other day that needed using up. I also had some spicy Italian sausage on hand, so this worked out wonderfully for dinner.

olive oil, divided
3 links spicy Italian sausage
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t dried basil, rubbed
2 cups (8 oz) package pasta (I used mostaccioli)
1 small head fresh broccoli, broken into small florets
hot pepper flakes to taste
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a large frying pan or skillet drizzled with a little oil over medium high heat, crumble sausage. Fry til golden brown and cooked through. Drain; wipe pan with paper towel. Return sausage to pan and stir in garlic and cook another minute or so. Stir in basil and remove from heat.


Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package. A few minutes before the pasta is done, stir in broccoli; drain, reserving about 1/4 cup cooking water.


Toss sausage mixture, pasta mixture, pepper flakes and a drizzle of additional olive oil in pasta cooking pot. If mixture appears dry, stir in a little reserved water. Add salt to taste.

I served the pasta with additional parmesan and a thick slice of buttered buttermilk cheese bread.http://media-files.gather.com/images/d921/d440/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg


The original recipe can be found here:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Broccoli-and-Sausage-Cavatelli/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=14932260&prop26=DailyDish&prop27=2009-01-13&prop28=DailyRecipe&prop29=FullRecipe&me=1

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