Italian Sausage and Spinach with Pasta

Tonight's meal was what I call a clean up meal in that I had some random items that needed to be used fairly quickly. Coupled with a lack of motivation to go to the grocery store, I had all the ingredients necessary to make a simple meal.

I had two different types of sausage leftover from two separate meals past, a bag of spinach I had forgotten about purchasing last weekend, and barely a fourth of a carton of vegetable broth sitting in the fridge. The rest of the ingredients are items I typically have hiding out in my kitchen.

Italian Sausage and Spinach with Pasta

13.5oz box whole wheat penne pasta

2 tbs light olive oil

1 pound sausage

1/2 yellow onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 c vegetable broth

1 10oz bag spinach leaves

8oz fresh (aka real) mozzarella, cut into small cubes

salt/pepper to taste

fresh basil leaves, cut into thin ribbons

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the liquid.

Meanwhile, crumble and brown sausage over med-high heat in olive oil. Add onion and saute about 5 minutes, or until onions are translucent. Add garlic and saute another minute.

Add vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Stir in spinach leaves until just wilted. Add reserved pasta water and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Toss with pasta.

Right before serving, toss with cheese and fresh basil. Serves 8.