Weeknight Easy. Rigatoni with Sweet Sausage and Creamy Marinara

Hello Foodies!  Hope 2016 is treating you well and you are savoring every moment.  I want to share a super easy and satisfying weeknight supper.

My son, Will is a Senior in High School this year and is playing Varsity Football.  When he gets home he is tired, sore and always hungry.....and RIGHT NOW, hungry!

Try this robust, hearty and satisfying dish which takes 30 mins from start to finish...

Sweet Sausage Rigatoni with Creamy Marinara

1 TB Olive Oil

1 Package Sweet Italian Sausage (ground or casings removed), abut 1-1.5 #

1 15 oz can Crushed Tomatoes
3/4 C water

1TB Dried Basil

1 TB Dehydrated Minced Onion

1t Garlic Powder

1/2 t Salt

1/2 t Black Pepper

2 t Dried Parsley

1 C Half and Half

1 lb Rigatoni, cooked per directions

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat and add sausage, crumbling as you add to pan.  Keep a bit chunky, about the size that you'd have on a pizza.  Cook until no longer pink, about 10-12 minutes.
2. Add dehydrated onion, garlic powder, basil and salt and stir until onion is softened.
3. Add the tomatoes and water.  Cover and heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer while pasta cooks, about 10 minutes.  Turn off heat.
4. Add half and half, parsley and pepper to tomato and sausage mixture.  Stir well.
5. Toss sauce with drained rigatoni.  

Hancock Bulldog

tastes better than this photo looks, that's for sure