Sausage Pasta with Broccolini and Maui Onions

This week is National Women’s Health Week…so I thought it might be more than appropriate to do a sausage recipe post.  Don’t even try to fake that “oh no she didn’t just say that,”  you know your snickering (even if it’s just a little bit).  But seriously, when was the last time you made an appointment with your gynecologist, dentist or regular physician for a checkup?  If you’re like me, you’re probably behind on at least one of those annual appointments with some kind of unpleasantness involved.  Me?  It’s the boob squishing mammogram.  I get motivated to get it done and get the scrip from my Dr. then it just sits there on my counter.  I so need to get it together (read that: suck it up and just do it), but the last time I checked it wasn’t recommended that you get all liquored up and pretend that that machine that’s wreaking havoc with my breasts isn’t my husband being equally drunk and wreaking havoc with my breasts.

But suggestions from WomensHealth.gov list (the stuff in italics are my additions to the list):

Getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week
Eating a nutritious diet – this doesn’t seem to include eating bacon or chocolate 2 out of 3 meals each day.
Visiting a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings
Avoiding risky behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt - interestingly enough it doesn’t mention that you shouldn’t mix beer and liquor either (you know that ol’ beef before liquor never sicker)
Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress - so basically you should know yourself well enough so that you know when to call you doctor to get a prescription for Xanax, instead of going out and offing the people that piss you off

Relationship Advice

This is a real simple one today.  Take care of yourself, because no one else can do this for you.  The healthier you are and the better you feel, the better all of your relationships will be.

Serves 4 – 6

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons Olive Oil (separated)
1 Pound Pasta (shapes like bowtie, campanelle or medium size shells)
1 Pound Sweet Italian Sausage (casings removed)
1 Pound Broccolini (can substitute broccoli)
1 Large Maui Onion (cut in large dice)
Kosher Salt
Crushed Red Pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.

Toss broccolini in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and place in baking pan (or on baking sheet).  Sprinkle asparagus with kosher salt.  Roast until broccolini pierces easily with fork.  Roasting time will vary from 7-15 minutes depending on the thickness of stalks.

Remove from oven and set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add pasta (cook according to package directions).  Drain pasta and return to cooking pot.

In a large saute pan add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium high heat.

Add onions to oil.  Stir onions.  Once the edges begin to brown, reduce heat to low and continue to cook until onions are almost translucent.

Pour onions, and oil onto pasta.

Return saute pan to high heat and add sausage.  Break up sausage and cook until sausage is well browned.

While sausage is cooking, roughly chop broccolini then add to cooking sausage.  Stir to combine.

Add pasta and cooked onions to sausage and broccolini. Stir thoroughly and heat through.

Serve with kosher salt and crushed red pepper.

Technorati Tags: 30 Minute Meals, Easy Cooking, easy dessert recipes, Easy Recipes, Fast Dinner Recipe, Main Course, maui onions, National Women's Health Week, Pork Recipe, Relationship Advice, sausage pasta recipe, Sausage Recipe

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