Pumpkin Sage Pasta with Chicken Sausage

Hellooo lovelies! I know, I know you are completely SHOCKED that I would have a PUMPKIN recipe to post!!! ;)  I have been CRAVING this dish for the last few weeks and ALL day today at work I could NOT wait to get home and make this! If you LOVE pumpkin and LOVE a touch of HEAT, this may be the recipe for you!!!

INGREDIENTS:

3 Tbsp - Olive Oil
2 Tbsp - butter
2 to 3 cloves of Garlic, diced
8 - 10 leaves of Sage, chopped
1 Cup of canned pure pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie mix)
1 Cup Reserved Pasta Water
Salt, Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes to Taste
1 pound of Penne Pasta
Shredded Italian Cheese
1 pound of Chicken Sausage chopped up


DIRECTIONS:

1. In a pan, brown up the chicken sausage, and set aside when done. I usually do this while my water is boiling for my pasta. Cook your pasta as directed.

2. In another pan saute the garlic & sage in the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.

3. When the pasta is done, pour 1 cup of the pasta water into a measuring cup and drain the rest.

4. Add the pumpkin and pasta water to the pan with the garlic & sage. (don't add the WHOLE cup of water, do it slowly to see what thickness you like)

5. Whisk together until combined. Add more pasta water if too thick or more pumpkin if too thin.

6. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste. I use A LOT more red pepper flakes than salt and pepper but this will be a personal preference thing. :)

7. Add pasta & sausage to the pan and combine with the sauce.

8. Sprinkle with italian cheese and serve with a salad.

YUMMY!!!!!! Let me know what you think!!!! :)
This will definitely be a trial and error game until you figure out how much of each of the salt & peppers to use for your taste. I have mine down to a science now and it's DELISH!!!!!