Spicy Sausage & Arugula Pasta: Part of the Progressively Perfect Dinner Party blog hop

Thanks for stopping in!  If you are following the Progressively Perfect Virtual Dinner Party blog hop, I hope you hare having a wonderful time visiting all the blogs and checking out everyone's recipes.  

To keep the party going, I thought I'd make an entree my family absolutely loves- Spicy Sausage & Arugula Pasta.  It is my 'go-to' dinner on many nights.  It also works great as a party food because it can be eaten warm or cold and the ingredients can be easily adjusted depending on how many people you will be having.  In a lot of cases, I just add additional pasta.  Don't worry if you make too much - it tastes GREAT in an omelet the next day for breakfast, too.  Enjoy!

Spicy Sausage & Arugula Pasta

For the pasta:

• 1 box of fusilli pasta
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup water from cooked pasta

For the sausage & arugula topping:

• 1 pound bulk hot sausage 
• 4 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
• 1 large bunch fresh baby arugula

Cook fusilli according to box directions.  While it is boiling, crumble sausage and brown it in a separate deep pan (I use a wok) on medium heat.  Add the minced garlic to the browned sausage and let cook for one minute.  Stir in tomatoes and let them cook down a bit (about 2 minutes).  Fold in arugula, cover and turn off heat.  The arugula will steam nicely with the heat that remains.

When pasta is done, drain it reserving a 1/3 cup of the water.  Mix salt, pepper, parmesan and oil in a small bowl.  Stir in water.  Toss onto hot pasta coating it evenly.

For small parties, you can serve the pasta with the sausage mixture on top.  For larger parties, I like to toss it altogether in a big bowl so people can serve themselves.  Hope you like it!

  To get the full Progressively Perfect Virtual Dinner Party blog hop experience, click the links below in order:

 Appetizers

• Diapered Daze and Knights- Tuna Salad Rolls
• The Fabulous Food Fairy- Roasted Tomato Caprice in Garlic Bread Bowls
• Worthington Lower- Chili Layered Dip
• Chockababy- Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings

Salad

• Life at the BAT Cave- Chipotle Shrimp Salad
• Life Without Pink- Homemade Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad 
• Look What Mom Found- Dad Too!- Veggie and Pasta Summer Salad 

Drinks

• Real: The Kitchen and Beyond- Blackberry Melon Lemonade
• Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps- Moscow Mule Beer Cocktails

Entrees

• The Vintage Mom- Kale & Zucchini Meatloaf
• Souffle Bombay- Lettuce Wraps
• the whole-y grail- Family Friendly Grilled Pizza 5 Ways
• Whatever Works- Spicy Sausage & Arugula Pasta

Coffee, Tea & Dessert

• An Opera Singer in the Kitchen- Dark Chocolate Cream Pie with Berries
• Will's World- S'mores Frozen Coffee
• A Grande Life- No Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake
• The Naughty Mommy- Key Lime Pie
• Legos and Lattes- Vanilla Spiced Chai Lattes

Late Night

• The Turnip Farmer- Vodka Gummi Bears

Decorations, Outfits and Music

• Crafty Garden Mama- Eco Friendly Entertaining
• Finnegan and the Hughes- Dressing the Kiddos
• Honey Badger Mom- Progressive Party Playlist, Playa!

Hope you have as much fun reading through the party as we did planning it!