Recipe-- Whole Wheat Penne with Sausage, Asparagus, & Tomatoes

1- 12oz box of whole grain penne ( I like the kind with milled flax-seed)

1/2 lb Fresh Asparagus, with the ends cut off and then cut into 2" pieces.

1- 14.5oz Can of organic diced tomatoes with Italian herbs

1 lb Italian-style turkey sausage, cut into 1/2" slices (if you're veggie, the "Lightlife Lean Italian Links" faux sausage also works quite nicely- just use a little more olive oil)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

Shredded Parmesean, Asiago & Provolone Cheese

In a large frying pan, fry the minced garlic in a couple tablespoons of olive oil at medium low heat. Add the sausage, salt and fresh ground pepper, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is cooked through. Drain off half the fat/juices. Add the can of diced tomatoes and heat through. After the tomatoes are heated through, add the asparagus, mix in thoroughly, cover, and turn off the burner.

In a separate big pasta pot, bring salted water to a boil. Once water is boiling, add the asparagus. Boil the asparagus for 2-3 minutes, JUST until done. Remove the asparagus with a slotted spoon, and put aside in a bowl.

Now add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions, just until al dente. Drain the pasta.

Dump the drained pasta and the sausage/vegetable mixture back into the big pasta pot and mix thoroughly.

Spoon onto plate and sprinkle shredded cheeses and more freshly ground pepper on top, if desired.

Serves a lot of people, let's say 6.