Pasta with Sausage, Fire-Roasted Tomatoes, and Basil

This is a really flavorful dish, and really quick to throw together (especially if you have frozen, cooked sausage prepared).  This meal is yummy fresh, but actually much better the second day after the sauce has thickened and the pasta has had a chance to soak up the flavors.  I found the recipe here.

INGREDIENTS:

*1/2 pound of dry spaghetti, cooked (or your favorite pasta) (I generally use a shaped pasta)
*1 pound regular sausage, cooked and crumbled
*1/2 of an onion, diced (or use 3 Tablespoons dehydrated minced onions)
*1 clove garlic, minced
*2 cups chicken broth
*2 Tablespoons cornstarch
*1, 15 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes (I always puree these because we don't like chunks)
*1 cup Parmesan cheese (I don't like cheese, so I just leave this out)
*1 cup fresh basil, snipped into little pieces (I typically use dried basil b/c I don't have fresh)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large pan, cook sausage and onion together, stirring often, until onion is soft, sausage is crumbled and browned and cooked all the way through.

2. In a large pot, boil some water. When it comes to a boil, add a generous pinch of salt and add your pasta to the water. Stir so it doesn’t clump together. When pasta is al dente, turn off the heat and drain most of the water.

3. Back to the sausage and onions- add the minced garlic, and cook on low for only a minute or two, being careful not to burn. (Garlic burns easily!) 

4. Mix the cornstarch with the broth until completely dissolved, then add the broth mixture to the pan. Cook on medium-high heat, stirring often, for a few minutes until sauce is thickened. Then add the can of tomatoes and stir.

5. Add the fresh grated Parmesan and the chopped basil to the sauce. Stir.

6. Drain the pasta and add it to the pot that holds the sauce. Mix together, then garnish with the more basil and parmesan. Serve warm. Enjoy!