As a high school teacher my days can be crazy.  Most days I get to school at 6:00 a.m. and often I don’t get home until 4:00.  My days are filled with lots of students, bells, and a quick moving tempo.  Often when I get home I am exhausted, hungry, and looking for a quick healthy dinner.

That’s where this one pot dinner comes in!  Who doesn’t love a one pot meal??   Quick cooking and easy clean up….speaking my work week language.  This recipe uses oricchiette pasta, Italian sausage and spinach.  I use turkey Italian sausage to cut back on the fat.

Orecchiette Spinach and Sausage

12 ounces of orecchiette pasta

1 pound Italian sausage – you may use links and slice them or I like to use it without the casing – I also like to use turkey sausage – spicy or sweet depending on preference

1 quart of chicken stock

12 ounces of frozen chopped spinach (you can use fresh) – you can also use other greens such as arugula or kale

1 medium size onion chopped

3 cloves of chopped garlic

1/8 tsp crushed red pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

In a deep pot heat the olive oil over medium heat and brown the sausage.  Add the onion and garlic to the browning sausage.  Add the stock and bring to a boil.  Add the pasta and cook about 15 minutes until pasta is tender and most of the stock is absorbed.  Add the spinach and cook for a couple of minutes.

I like to serve it with a dusting of parmesan cheese.  Add a tomato salad and a piece of crusty warm bread and dinner is served.  And the best part, besides this yummy dinner, is the clean up…one pot!

Enjoy!