spring pasta with squash, spinach and chicken sausage

 

i'm on a mission to clean out our fridge. it's a complete mess that seems be an endless black pit. tonight's recipe was really a beautiful mishap that came together with whatever we had lying around. it's amazing how you can pull together a delicious, healthy and easy meal with just a few essentials.

ingredients:

1/2 lb angel hair pasta

1 zucchini

1 yellow squash

2 cups fresh spinach

1 lb chicken sausage, sliced on a diagonal (our was roasted garlic and gouda flavored)

2 tablespoons garlic olive oil (heat olive in small pan with crushed garlic cloves over low heat for 10 minutes)

red pepper flakes

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/4 to 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

directions:

bring large pot of water to boil for pasta over medium high heat.  meanwhile, heat skillet over medium heat with evoo.  brown chicken sausage for about 8 minutes, turning frequently.  set aside.

using a vegetable peeler, slice zucchini and squash into thin ribbons.  should look like this.

add liberal amount of salt and noodles to boiling pot of water. cook according to directions. two minutes before pasta is done add zucchini and squash ribbons. remove from pot and reserve pasta water.

in a large serving bowl mix together cooked pasta, zucchini/squash, fresh spinach, chicken sausage, parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes (to your liking), garlic olive oil and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water.  add more if pasta is too dry. keep tossing together, letting the heat from the pasta wilt the spinach. serve immediately and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.