One Pot to Live!

I love my Dutch oven. Maybe it's because I am Dutch? Likely not - that seems ridiculous- after all, I am an eighth Irish. Oh but that Dutch oven. I had been wanting one for a long time but kept seeing the Le Cruset Dutch ovens and oh wow, we didn't want to remortgage the house just for a pot to cook in. Aldi had them one Christmas (and has since) for $25. Deal - done! Over the years we have baked and cooked plenty on out much loved Dutch oven, we even bought another at Goodwill because Dutch ovens!

One of my favorite things to cook in our red Dutch oven is one pot meals, especially pasta. This time it was pasta, basil, turkey smoked sausage, tomatoes, onions, and garlic - all good things. All good things together? Even better. It was actually not too heavy of a dish other than the cup of Parmesan at the end. Our kids ate their plates clean which could have been a promise of fruit salad for dessert, but hey a clean plate is a clean plate - yes?
So make this one. No really - it's easy. You dump it all in a pot, even the pasta, turn on the heat, stir, dinner done.

One Pot Pasta
1 pound spaghetti
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked turkey sausage, thinly sliced
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 cups halved grape tomatoes (or chopped tomatoes)
2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup grated Parmesan

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat, combine spaghetti, sausage, onion, tomatoes, basil, garlic and 4 1/2 cups water; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until pasta is cooked through and liquid has reduced, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in Parmesan.
Serve immediately.