Quick and easy pasta with sausage and tomato sauce

Here's a super easy dish to make that takes no longer than the time you need to boil the water and cook the pasta.

What you'll need:

• Pasta
• Bulk Italian sausage, hot or mild
• Crushed tomatoes
• Minced fresh garlic
• Balsamic vinegar
• Dry or fresh herbs like basil, Italian parsley, oregano
• Grated parmesan or romano cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the pasta: You can use whatever you have on hand. I like to use either an orecchiette (little ears) or a medium shell. Those shapes hold the sauce like Snooki holds a cocktail. Put your pot of water on to boil (cook your pasta according to the package) and a large frying pan on medium-high heat.

You can use mild or hot Italian sausage. If you get links, just cut the casing open to release the sausage into the pan. Fry the bulk sausage, breaking it up into small pieces, until it is browned. Lower the heat. Add as much minced or crushed fresh garlic as you'd like. I like to use a couple tablespoons, but I'm a big fan of garlic. Allow the garlic to cook for only a minute and please do take a few huffs of that marvelous smell coming up from the pan.

Minced garlic

Add the balsamic vinegar and allow to cook until evaporated (just don't huff the vinegar or you won't be able to breathe for a minute). It will glaze the sausage, adding a hint of sweetness.

Browned and glazed sausage

If you are using dried herbs, add them now, and let them cook for a minute. Don't go overboard on the dried herbs - a little goes a long way. If you are using fresh herbs, don't add them yet. Mix in the can of crushed tomatoes. At this point, you need to salt and pepper to taste. Please use either kosher salt or sea salt. If the tomatoes are too acidic, add a sprinkle of sugar, but you must taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as you like.

Chopped fresh Italian parsley and oregano

Your pasta should be ready by now. Drain it, add it to the pan with the sauce, and throw in your fresh herbs now. I have Italian parsley and oregano growing in my window, so that's what I used this time. Mix everything together until all the pasta is coated. Remove from heat.

Sauce, pasta, and herbs

As a variation, I also make this with peppers and onions. Just add them while the sausage is browning. Mushrooms would be fabulous with this as well, but then I would be the only one in the house eating it. Serve with some grated cheese on top. My favorite is Locatelli, but use whatever you've got. Enjoy!

My hubby gets the big serving.

I get a smaller serving on top of greens.