Stove-Top Broccoli and Sausage Pasta

First I peel or pare off the touch outer layer from the stalks. I cut the stalks into slices about 1/4 inch thick and cut the head into the florets. This way I don't waste anything. We don't mind a bit eating the stalks.

As you can see, I need a new cutting board here. This one is ancient and part of it broke off. I normally keep a separate board for slicing onions, since the onion smell seems to hang onto the board.

If you have a non-stick pan, you will only need about a teaspoon. If you have cast iron or stainless steel, I'd use a couple of tablespoons or enough for a thin covering of the pan's surface. Let the oil heat a bit and then add the sausage and brown to taste. As you can see, I like mine really brown because I think the taste is better that way. I'm also the type that likes to blacken my hot dogs a bit when I cook them over a fire. So get the sausage as brown as suits you. As the slices brown, I toss them around like a salad to make sure all sides get their turn to connect with the pan's surface.

Keep tossing until the vegetables are tender-crisp. This is usually about the time the broccoli turns a very bright green. Then you know it's just right.

As you can see, I had fresh basil, but had to use dried parsley. Be sure and mix everything well while you turn the heat down to simmer.

You might want to stir it occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn. I used an electric stove here, and it takes it a bit of time for the temperature to get low. At home I use gas and the temperature changes much more quickly.

Toss the pasta with everything else in the pot and increase the temperature to medium. Keep tossing until the pasta is heated through.

Complete your meal with a salad and your favorite bread. I served this with the creamy cucumber salad pictured here. This also goes well with a big green salad or even a bean salad. We served it today with sourdough garlic cheese toast.

We expect to get three meals out of this one recipe, since there are only two in our family. There was a lot left in the pot that did not fit in this serving dish.