Pasta with Turkey Sausage, Spinach, and Smoked Gouda

Pasta with Turkey Sausage, Spinach, and Smoked Gouda

This is my take on a recipe that a friend made from her church cookbook.  This dish combines many of my favorite foods/ flavors and is fairly simple to throw together.  When making/ serving casseroles like this, I almost always make them first thing in the morning while the kiddos are happily playing and then refrigerate and bring to room temperature for an hour before baking prior to dinner.  I find that my afternoons and evenings can get off course based on the ups and downs of kid behavior during the day, and it's always nice to know that dinner is already prepared and that all I need to do is pop it straight into the oven.

-1 box whole wheat pasta, cooked al dente (I used penne)
-1 lb Italian turkey sausage, cooked and crumbled
-2 Tbsp olive oil
-1 onion, diced
-2-3 assorted bell peppers, diced (I used 1 red, 1 yellow, and 1 orange)
-6 cloves garlic, minced
-1 (29 oz) can diced tomatoes
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp pepper
-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
-8 oz baby spinach leaves
-2 1/2 c smoked gouda, shredded, divided use

Heat oil in medium pot over medium heat.  Add onion and peppers.  Saute until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.  Add garlic, saute 1 additional minute.  Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, stirring well.  Add spinach, cooking and stirring until just wilted, about 5 minutes.  Toss pasta and sausage with tomato mixture and 2 c of the cheese.  Spread into a greased 13x9 pan.  Top with remaining 1/2 c cheese.  Bake at 375 20-30 minutes, until warm and cheese is melted.