Pasta with Italian Turkey Sausage with Spinach and White Beans

Our Valentine Day tradition is a family dinner.  My husband and I gave up going out on Valentine day years ago, we got frustrated with the high price and actually we love spending the night as a family.  The kids drink out of wine glasses, I light the candles and my husband always does valentine cards for the kids with a gift card tucked inside.  It's a day of love so what better way then to celebrate then with all the loves of my life.

I LOVE sharing recipes that past the taste of everyone . . . let's face it with 3 teens that is not an easy task.  LOL

I made this for our valentine night and it was a hit!!

• 10 oz Penne pasta  (whole wheat or low carb)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 package uncooked Italian turkey sausage, removed from casing
• 1/2 cup fat free, low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup cannellini or white beans, drained and rinsed 
• 1 bag of fresh spinach, torn into bite sized pieces
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper, or to taste (optional)
• salt and fresh pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package and reserve 1/2 cup water from cooking pasta. 

Heat olive oil in pan and sauté onions and garlic about 4-5 minutes.  Add in sausage, breaking up into pieces and cook until no longer pink.  Transfer turkey sausage mixture on separate plate.  

Add chicken broth and beans to pan and add in spinach.   Cook until spinach is wilted and add sausage mixture, red pepper flakes and pasta to pan.  You can add some reserve pasta water if needed.  Toss well and sprinkle with cheese.  

Serving size: 1 1/2 cup

21 Day Fix Containers:  1 red, 1 1/2 yellow, 1/2 green