Orecchiette w/ Peas & Sausage in a Parmesan Cream Sauce

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  To celebrate, hubby and I ate at one of our favorite little Mexican restaurants for lunch today, "Little Mexico Grill".  It was our "brunch" since we did not have breakfast.  I had my usual Chicken Fajita Quesadilla and hubby had his usual Chile Poblanos Stuffed w/ Cheese.  It was yummy and worth skipping breakfast for!

Youngest son came for dinner this evening so I made something I thought he might like.  I made a pasta and peas dish using De Cecco Orecchiette (little pasta bowls), fresh peas, Aidells Smoked Italian Chicken Sausage with Mozzarella tossed in an easy to make Parmesan cream sauce.  I also tossed in some Cherubs cherry tomatoes for both color and flavor.  It was a quick and easy meal to put together.  It is very similar to Pasta Carbonara if you have ever had that before.  As usual, I've snapped a few pics for you to see.  You can also find the recipe below.

This is the sausage I used...it is really tasty.

I sliced and lightly sauteed the sausage (it's already fully cooked)

De Cecco Orecchiette is one of my faves!

Voila!

So pretty!

BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM!

Orecchiette with Peas and Sausage

1 pound orecchiette pasta
1 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon butter
1 small white onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)

3 cloves of garlic, finely minced
2 cups fresh or frozen peas
4 tablespoons water

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
6 ounces cooked Italian sausage, thinly sliced (I used Aidells Smoked Italian w/ Mozzarella)

1 cup half-n-half (regular or fat free)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. 

2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium non-stick skillet over medium-low heat; add onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until translucent, stirring often.  When onion is translucent, add minced garlic and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until garlic is cooked (but not browned).

3. Add the peas and water to the pan and cook about 3 minutes, stirring. Stir in the sausage and cook 2 minutes. Add the half-n-half; bring to a low simmer and cook 5 minutes.  Heat the halved cherry tomatoes in the microwave for 30 seconds on high.

4. Drain pasta; place in large serving bowl. Stir 1 tablespoon butter into the cream mixture over low heat until melted. Stir in the cheese and stir just until melted.  Pour sauce over pasta; add heated tomatoes and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.