Easy Spicy Pasta

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb penne pasta
• 1/2 ring polska kielbasa
• 1 red pepper
• 1 (26 ounce) jar of your favorite red pasta sauce (no meat)
• 1/2 tablespoon oil
• cayenne pepper
• shredded colby-monterey jack cheese

Recipe

• 1 start heating up your water for the pasta.
• 2 cut your kielbasa half into 1/4 inches medallions (i like to cut them at an angle, makes them look prettier) and throw them into a hot pan (about medium temperature). cook the kielbasa for about 10 minutes, flipping them over about half the time to caramelize each side. if you think they will stick to the pan, add the 1/2 tablespoon oil. adjust heat as needed.
• 3 while your kielbasa cooks, prepare the red pepper. cut the pepper in half and remove the stem and seeds. if you like a lot of spice, leave the seeds in, if you cant handle a lot of spice, scoop them out along with the membrane. once cleaned out, cut the pepper into 1/4 inch strips. they will end up kind of long so cut them in half.
• 4 remove kielbasa from pan and leave on a plate while the pepper strips cook. pour in 1/2 tablespoon oil into the same pan and let it heat up. add noodles to boiling water (it should be boiling by now) and set a timer for 10 minutes. you don't want to cook the noodles to al dente since they will simmer in the sauce and soak up flavors, that will finish the few minutes of boiling the noodles missed. toss your pepper strips into the pan and cook them for about 7 to 8 minutes (they will cook a bit more in the sauce too).
• 5 add your pasta sauce to the pan and grab the cayenne pepper. sprinkle in however much you want until you get the desire spiciness. i didn't measure any certain amount out, i just sprinkled some in, stirred, tasted, repeat as needed. don't forget to add your kielbasa in too!
• 6 drain your noodles and add them to the sauce. stir well so the noodles are covered in the sauce. simmer on medium to medium-low, covered, for about 10 minutes or until the noodles are al dente.
• 7 serve with the colby jack cheese sprinkled on top and tell everyone there is more cayenne pepper to spice it up more if they like!