Sausage and Mushroom Farfalle

This was one of the first dishes I created and made for James, my husband, that he really enjoyed.  It's inspired by my time spent in Italy and from my grandmother's chunky spaghetti sauce!

Serves: 6-8 (Good for leftovers)

Ingredients:

  - 1 lb Italian sausage in casing - spicy or mild, remove casing and cut into 1/2"

     pieces

  - 16 oz of cremini mushrooms, sliced (can substitue with other types of mushrooms)

  - 1 lb organic farfalle pasta or bow-tie pasta

  - 1 tbsp olive oil

  - 1 14.5oz can organic tomato sauce

  - 1 14.5oz can organic diced tomatoes

  - 1 large white organic onion, chopped

  - 6 cloves organic garlic, minced

  - 2 tbsp italian seasoning dried

  - 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

  - 1 tsp sugar

  - 1 tbsp salt

  - 1/2 tbsp ground black pepper

  - 1/4 cup of fresh basil, julienned

  - 1/4 cup of fresh flat leaf parsley, minced

 Heat a large sautee pan on medium with the olive oil (let the pan get good and hot) then place the onion and sausage in the pan until the sausage is browned, halfway through the browning place the mushrooms in the pan, about ten minutes total.  Pour in the sauce, diced tomatoes, dried herbs, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.  Bring to a simmer.  Meanwhile bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta to al-dente, approximately 2 minutes less than the package recommends.  Drain the pasta and place back in the pot.  Check the sauce for seasoning and then pour over the pasta and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until the pasta has absorbed some of the sauce.  Finish the pasta by adding the fresh basil and parsley.  Serve hot and with fresh parmesan cheese if desired.

Comments on the ingredients:  Pork is easier to find organic than some meats.  What you specifically want to look for is pork raised without hormones and without inoculations.  Whole Foods or other healthful supermarkets should have it on hand.   Farmers at your local farmer's markets may even sell pork and you can discuss with him/her how they raise their livestock. If you find it hard to find organic pork perhaps have a discussion with your local meat counter and show your interest in buying such a product.  If enough people demand that a thing be sold in their grocery store the more interest the store has in stocking it!