Spaghetti with Marinara, Cherry Tomatoes, and Spicy Sausage

Nothing screams family like a massive bowl of hearty pasta. That was my mentality for dinner the other night. I'm getting ready to head back to school and was feeling sentimental towards my family and wanted to make them a dinner that would evoke feelings of warm love and home. And that's just what this dish does, with a little kick of course. A deliciously simple marinara gets a jolt from some spicy sausage and some fresh golden and red cherry tomatoes that become meltingly tender and burst with flavor. Tossed with an al dente spaghetti and this dish will start gracing your table at least once a week.

Spaghetti with Marinara, Cherry Tomatoes, and Spicy Sausage, for 6

Ingredients

2 16 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes (total is 4

2 tbs olive oil

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 vidalia onion, finely chopped

handful of fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped

salt & pepper to taste

1 cup assorted cherry tomatoes, whole

3 spicy pork sausage (or sausage of your choice)

1 box of spaghetti

Recipe: Heat a large skillet with the olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and vidalia onion and cook until translucent, about 7 minutes. Meanwhile, puree the canned tomatoes (with juices) in a blender/food processor until smooth. Once the onions are translucent, add the pureed tomatoes and roughly chopped basil to the skillet. Turn the heat down to low and cover and cook for atleast an hour. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Follow the pasta instructions and set aside. 

Meanwhile, make the sausage. You can do this in one of two manners. You can grill the sausage outdoors on a grill until they're nicely charred and cooked through, or you could cook them on a stovetop and add the pan juices into the sauce for a super sausage-y flavor. Once cooked, slice each sausage into rounds. Add cherry tomatoes and sausage to the sauce and let simmer for 5 minutes, just until the tomatoes look like they are going to burst. Toss with the pasta and serve with parmesan cheese. 

 ummm...ya. if this doesn't scream FAMILY i don't know what will

sweet 'n spicaAYyyYY

xoxo

hungreegirl.