Spaghetti with chickpeas, cherry tomatoes & spinach

I think a sign of success of a good vegetarian meal is if I can get my husband to eat it without noticing he's missing meat. ;) We both LOVE chickpeas, and I could snack on them like chips. This recipe was super easy and tasty and all the ingredients are of things I always have in the pantry or fridge.



Ingredients
Dried Spaghetti (cooked al dente - 10 1/2 mins)
1 can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 cups fresh baby spinach
6 or 7 cremini mushrooms
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp hot chili flakes (for a milder dish, use less or omit, but I like things SPICY!)
parmesean cheese

Directions
While pasta is boiling, heat up olive oil in a large skillet.
Saute garlic until fragrant. Add mushrooms and continue to cook until softened, about 3-4. Add tomatoes, chickpeas and hot pepper flakes. Allow to heat through until tomatoes release their juices and become slightly wrinkled. Ladle some boiling water from the pasta pot into the sauce, and season with salt and pepper.
Drain spaghetti, and toss with sauce and spinach. Spinach will slowly wilt from the heat of the spaghetti. Top with parmesean cheese and enjoy!

Spicy Sausage and Red Pepper pasta

I LOVE pasta & sauce. It's so simple and so good. This one is one of my personal favourites. Sharl and I think that sausage makes sauce taste extra delicious.




Ingredients
450g package of the best spicy Italian sausage you can find (about 4 links)
1 large can tomatoes diced
1 small can tomato paste
1 large onion diced
4 cloves garlic minced
1 red pepper sliced or diced
3 dried red chilies chopped or 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
olive oil

Directions
Remove casings from sausage and brown the meat in a large pot until no longer pink.
Drain fat.
Push the meat to the edges of the pot and pour 1 tbsp olive oil in the hole.
Add the onions, garlic and chilies and saute until softened and fragrant.
Add tomatoes and tomato paste and spices.
Season with salt and pepper.
Simmer for about 15-20 minutes or longer

Serve with your favourite pasta and top with Parmesan cheese.