Zesty Penne Pasta - Light

"I found this recipe in a magazine, in a Philly (cream cheese) ad. I modified it to make it healthier, and was honestly WOW-ed when I tried it - it's that good! Hope it WOW-s you too!"
 
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photo by megs_ photo by megs_
photo by megs_
Ready In:
20mins
Ingredients:
6
Serves:
8
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ingredients

  • 3 cups whole wheat penne, uncooked
  • 1 lb reduced-fat pork sausage, Jimmy Dean
  • 1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce, I use Prego Heart-Smart
  • 1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
  • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 14 cup parmesan cheese
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directions

  • Cook pasta according to directions.
  • While that cooks, brown sausage in a pan sprayed with cooking spray.
  • When sausage is fully cooked, add spaghetti sauce & red chili pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add cream cheese to sauce, stir well for 2 minutes.
  • Drain pasta and mix well with sauce. Top with parmesan, let stand on LOW heat for 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

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Reviews

  1. I made this last night for the kids. I'm sheepishly reporting that I did make it with regular penne, regular cream cheese, and regular sausage. I halved the crushed reds, too. They loved it! I think this recipe could really be adapted, too. I think sauteed peppers, mushrooms and onions would be delicious in this dish.
     
  2. This is really really good. It's creamy, but not too creamy; spicy but not too spicy; and easy (but doesn't look as easy as say, spaghetti). Stick with the 3 cups pasta (or less...) or you will have not enough sauce. My Jimmy Dean Red. Fat Sausage was only 12 oz., and it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe.
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p style=text-align: left;><span style=color: #333399;><br /></span></p> <p style=text-align: left;><span style=color: #333399;>Hey there! My name's Megan and I'm a Texan busy<strong> wife</strong> and a working <strong>Mommy</strong>! I work in the education field and love chasing around my little toddler (age 2). </span><span style=color: #333399;>My husband and I have been married for <strong>SEVEN</strong> years and counting now! We can hardly believe it! Time flies... </span></p> <p style=text-align: center;><span style=color: #333399;><strong>Here is our little family of three on Easter: (2012)</strong></span></p> <p style=text-align: left;><span style=color: #333399;>&nbsp;</span><span style=color: #333399;>&nbsp;</span><span style=color: #333399;>&nbsp;</span></p> <p style=text-align: center;><img src=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLLk8C6GMls/T4D5b9fX8VI/AAAAAAAABCE/Lg91lI_N4dQ/s400/IMG_0343.JPG alt=Our family! width=319 height=377 /></p> <p style=text-align: center;>&nbsp;</p> <p style=text-align: left;><span style=color: #333399;>I love all things <strong>cooking</strong> -- reading cookbooks, watching Food Network, but most of all browsing this site. </span><span style=color: #333399;>I really love watching southern cooks such as Trisha Yearwood and Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond, but love to lighten up their recipes to make them healthier. <img title=Wink src=/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-wink.gif border=0 alt=Wink /></span><span style=color: #666699;><span style=color: #000000;><br /></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>
 
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