This is an easy weeknight meal made to pair with a bottle of delicious Italian-style wine, like our Whimsy or Dolcetto.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 shallot, minced
• Olive oil
• 8 oz ground Italian sausage
• Splash of red wine
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 2 cups chopped kale
• 1 package of penne pasta
• Salt and Pepper
• Fresh Parmesan
• 2 tsp. Trader Joe’s Italian Sofrito

Directions:

In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Be sure to salt the water generously. Once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and stir it. Cook pasta according to the package instructions less 2 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.

While the pasta is cooking, saute the Italian sausage over medium-high heat. Remove the sausage from the pan once cooked through. Next, add the mushrooms. Once they are golden brown, add salt and pepper to taste. Season with Trader Joe’s Italian Sofrito if you have it. If not, an Italian herb mix works great too.

Now, deglaze the pan with a splash of red wine from your glass. Be sure to scrape all the golden bits on the bottom of the pan into the sauce. That’s the good flavor!

Add the tomato sauce, and shallots, stirring well. Next, add the kale, turn the heat to medium-low and let the kale soften (about 5 minutes).

Drain your pasta, but remember to reserve one cup of pasta water. Add the pasta and the Italian sausage to the pan with the mushrooms and kale. Stir to combine. If it seems dry, add some of the pasta water until the sauce has the desired consistency.

Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan and more wine.