Rainy Day Lunch ... Farfalle and Sausage

What is it about rainy days and my need to curl up with a warm dish of pasta? Whatever the reason, I planned for this kind of strong urge last night when I made dinner. Silent Bob warned me yesterday that rain was in the forecast for the next few days, so I made a big bowl of warm farfalle and sausage to accompany some venison chops that we had to eat up. The story is not with the chops, though.

The story is with a simple bowl of pasta tossed with just a hint of olive oil, kosher salt and pepper, fresh Italian parsley, plenty of sliced scallions, chopped tomatoes, and browned Italian sweet sausage and garlic. That's it ... so simple, but perfect with a grilled meat ... or by itself with a cold glass of wine. Sometimes, putting some food in your belly is not all about a million ingredients and steps. Sometimes, the most comforting and delicious things come from a very simple toss together.


Today's lunch was just so good and warm and delicious ... and I kept thinking that it will taste even better when we can use tomatoes fresh from our own garden! But for right now? Perfect for the rainy day circumstances ...

Warm Farfalle and Sausage

Ingredients:

8 oz. dry farfalle, cooked in salted water until al dente

2 links Italian sweet sausage, crumbled and browned in a teaspoon or two of olive oil

1 large clove garlic, minced and browned with the sausage

1- 15 0z. can of diced fire-roasted tomatoes, well drained

1 handful fresh Italian parsley leaves, rinsed, dried, and chopped

4 perfect green scallions, tipped and cut into half inch rings (white ends included)

extra olive oil for drizzling

kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Cook the pasta while you are browning the sausage and garlic and draining the tomatoes.

Drain the pasta and toss with some olive oil and kosher salt and pepper.

Lay the pasta in a bowl and put the scallions and sausage over top. Scatter on the tomatoes and parsley. cover and let the residual heat from the drained pasta and warm sausage work on the scallions a bit.

After about five minutes, toss the pasta and sausage together and place in warm bowls. Serve with olive oil for drizzling and cheese if you feel you need it.

Serves 4 or 2 with leftovers for next day snacking