Penne Pasta with Sausage and Greens

Ingredients

• 13 oz package penne pasta
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 links Italian sausage
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 medium onion
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1 tsp basil
• 3/4 tsp salt
• Freshly cracked pepper
• 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 lb frozen broccoli
• 1/4 lb frozen spinach
• 2 oz feta

Directions

1. Prepare the pasta following the package instructions, boiling it for 7-10 minutes, until al dente. Pour it into a colander to drain.
2. As the pasta cooks, place the sausage links in a large pot with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook them over medium heat for about 5 minutes, just until they have a little color and are firm enough to cut.
3. While the sausage is on the stove, mince the garlic and dice the onion. Take the sausage out of the pot, then add the onion and garlic to the same pot. Sauté them for 2-3 minutes, using the moisture from the vegetables to loosen the browned bits on the bottom. While that cooks, cut the sausage into medallions. When the onions are soft and translucent, return the sliced sausage to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes more, until the sausage is cooked through.
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Stir until the tomato paste is fully worked into the sauce.
5. The pasta should be cooked and drained by now. Add it to the pot with the frozen broccoli and spinach, then stir everything together. Warm the pasta and sauce over medium heat, stirring now and then so it heats evenly. Crumble in the feta, stir to combine, and serve.