Sausage Mushroom Pasta

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. While the pasta cooks, proceed with the recipe below.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat in a large, high-sided skillet. Add sliced mushrooms and cook for 3 or 5 minutes until they are cooked through but not overcooked. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over them. Remove mushrooms from the skillet.

To the same, now empty, skillet, add crumbled sausage and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the sausage is cooked. Drain excess fat.

To the same skillet with sausage, add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, tomato pasta sauce, chopped fresh tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Bring to a boil on medium heat and stir everything well. Cook on medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes until the spinach wilts to your liking.

Add cooked and drained pasta and cooked mushrooms to the sauce. Reheat.

Mix everything well. Remove from heat.

Season with salt, freshly ground coarse black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if you like.