This recipe has to be at least 20 years old. It goes back to the time when my brother and I were kids and Mom made this with a special shape of pasta called radiatore — which any 8-year-old would look at and say: “It looks like a brain!” The name stuck, and it has been a favorite weeknight dinner of my brother, Jimmy, ever since.

Jimmy’s Sausage and “Brains”

Ingredients:
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 large onion, chopped
2 (14 oz.) cans petite diced tomatoes, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. dried basil
2 cups heavy cream
1 pound radiatore pasta (brains)
parmesan cheese (for garnish)

Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to the package’s directions in salted water. Drain.
2. While pasta is cooking, heat a large non-stick skillet on medium heat. Brown the sausage with the onion.
3. When the sausage is no longer pink and the onions are translucent, add garlic and basil and tomatoes. Cook another 2-3 minutes.
4. Turn down the heat and add the cream. Simmer for 15 minutes.
5. In a large bowl, add the drained pasta and pour the sausage-tomato mixture on top. Stir together. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Notes:
This recipe makes about six servings, and can be doubled for large parties. Any shape of pasta can also be substituted for this recipe as well.

© 2020, Blue Willow Kitchen
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