Menu Plan for the week of May 14, 2010:  Thursday's Recipes

Warm Pasta Salad / Sausage and Peppers

Cooking time:  25 minutes for menu          Cooking schedule: see below for "menu" instructions
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     You can do this all indoors or do the sausages on the grill.  Summer cooking is easy. Use whatever mushrooms are left.

Warm Pasta Salad with Peppers and Sausage               Time: 25 minutes
   This is a bit of a cross between a hot 'winter' pasta dish and a cold 'summer' salad. Lightly dressed with Balsamic vinegar, it has the taste of a salad with very little oil.

1 1/4 cups bite-sized pasta   penne, rigatoni...
12oz (350gr) sausages, total weight   I used pork with herbs, you could use Italian, Brats, Turkey
1 yellow, orange or red bell pepper   
2.5oz (75gr) mushrooms   
1 onion  
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs red wine   substitute sherry
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs red wine vinegar  
1 tbs whole grain mustard
1/3 cup shredded cheese
2 tbs fresh marjoram or oregano leaves    substitute 2 tsp dried

Cook pasta according to package directions.  When done, drain.
Slice pepper into long strips, then cut strips in half.  Slice onion.  Trim and slice mushrooms.  Heat 2 tbs oil in large, nonstick skillet.  Add onions, peppers and sauté for 5 minute.  Add mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes longer.
Cut sausages into 1" (2.5cm) lengths and add to skillet.  Sauté until cooked through.
In a small bowl whisk together the wine, Worcestershire, vinegar and mustard.  When sausages are cooked and pasta is done and drained, add the wine mix to the skillet.  Bring to a boil, stirring to combine, then remove from heat.  Add pasta and herbs, stir well.  Put into a large pasta or salad bowl, sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Cooking schedule: 25 minutes Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes Utensils needed: measuring cups, spoons, knives, scissors, large skillet, pot and colander for pasta Put water on high heat for pasta Slice pepper Slice onion Trim and slice mushrooms Start to sauté peppers and onions Take marjoram or oregano leaves off stems Snip large leaves. Add mushrooms to skillet

Start to cook pasta Slice sausages, add to skillet, sauté Get menu, recipes & list from Thyme For Cooking Do pantry inventory Check fridge and freezer  Check shopping list Whisk the wine, vinegar, sauce and mustard Add wine mix to skillet, stir to combine Bring to a simmer, then take off heat Drain pasta Add pasta, herbs, to skillet , toss well to combine Sprinkle with cheese, Serve