Spicy Chicken Sausage Pasta

I love the grocery store.

Have I mentioned that before? Yes, it's true. When I was at PSU, I spent many a lazy Sunday roaming Wegman's (okay, not hours people, but a good amount of time). I like to look at food and explore what's new. Yep. Weird. But I'm sure some of you do the same.

Well, turns out my grocery store fix has become a very big issue. I'm talking once a day, sometimes more. This is mostly because I go and forget to buy things, or I stop in the coffee shop while I'm there. Coffee... oye, that's another story.

The point is, in an effort to minimize trips, cost, and impulse buying I made a LIST on Sunday and was planning on going one time this week after planning out my menus. Well, not total success but much better than usual.

So, Monday, I wanted pasta. I made up something! It looks, well, very green. That's because I used spinach fettuccine. You could obviously use any kind of pasta you'd like but it's what we had and it's certainly more spunky than plain. Or whole wheat...ughh I loathe whole wheat pasta. Anyway, here's what I did.

What ya need:
8 oz pasta (I used Trader Joe's Spinach Fettuccine)
2 Tbsp butter
1 Medium onion
3 Garlic cloves, minced
4 Spicy Chicken Sausage Links (I used Trader Joe's Spicy Red Pepper)
1.5 tsp Chili Powder (or to taste)
1/2 tsp Ground Red Pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Parsley

What ya do:
Cook your pasta according to package. Drain and place in a large bowl (keep it warm!)

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high. Add the onion and saute for about 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add garlic (and I think next time I'll add red peppers) and continue to saute for 2 minutes.
Cook your chicken links in microwave according to package. Slice into bite size pieces.

Sprinkle your chicken sausage with red pepper, salt and  chili powder (or cayenne/Cajun seasonings). Add it to the pan and saute for about 3 minutes.
Remove from  heat and add half and half and parmesan. Pour chicken/vegetable mixture over pasta. Sprinkle with pasta.

As you may be able to tell, I added broccoli floretts into my pasta. I think I'll omit them next time. This meal is inexpensive, easy and filling. Substitute other vegetables to suit your tastes! Don't worry, it's better than the pictures let on... promise!