To say that I have been dreaming of pasta for quite a few years now is an understatement.  If you read my blog, you may have heard me mention more than once that mac and cheese is my all time favorite food—something that are not entirely possible when eating grain free.  I can honestly say that I have not had a bite of pasta in over 3 years.  Well, then this magical company called Cappellos came along—grain free pasta, why yes, they make it! And I promise you its like magic being delivered to your door in the form of a box.  I squealed with delight when the doorbell rang and couldn’t wait to try this amazing grain free fettuccine made from almond flour.

Most gluten free pastas are made from rice or potato starch and still very high in starchy carbohydrates so they are out of question for me.  People also always tell me that gluten free pasta sticks together and becomes quite mushy.  Cappellos pasta is quite the opposite and completely grain free and Paleo! It is made from almond flour so very low in carbohydrates and holds together beautifully when cooked.  It even lasted a few hours in the refrigerator until we had second helpings for dinner and the texture was still great after reheating!  Yes, its magical!

As the weather begins to chill, the smells of my freshly baked grain & nut free sandwich bread or a pot of tomato soup bring comfort to our kitchens and invade our daily lives.  There is something about walking into a kitchen on a chilly fall evening to the smell of herbs, butter, garlic—smells that represent daily rituals and humanity.  I was brainstorming of what sauce to make with this grain free fettuccine and decided on simple ingredients such as tomatoes, herbs and fresh sausage, humble ingredients that combine into magical flavors.

Made entirely with crumbled sweet and spicy Italian sausage, this simple ragu is full of vibrant flavors.  A ragu is typically made with a combination of meats, sautéed vegetables and a liquid.  Now I am quite picky about my red pasta sauce. I am the type of girl who likes her white sauce creamy, heavy on the butter and cheese, and red sauce rich, heavy on the sausage and light on the marinara.  This ragu is packed with crumbled sausage, mushrooms and caramelized onions—and may have you wanting to eat it by the spoonful!

Do yourself a favor and order a box of Cappellos grain free and Paleo pasta, lasagna or gnocci! Let this magical pasta bring joy to your kitchen table today!  And if you reach for seconds, like me, don’t worry, know one is judging you.  So go ahead, twirl your fork and slurp up your noodles, pretending to be a child at heart!

{Be sure to sign up for my newsletter this week for a special discount to purchase Cappellos gluten & grain free pasta!}

Paleo Italian Sausage Ragu with Grain Free Fettuccine

A savory Italian sausage ragu sauce served over grain free fettuccine pasta.  A comforting blend of herbs and marinara make this Paleo pasta dish come to life.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage (2 sweet & 2 spicy links), casings removed
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 6 crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp Celtic sea salt
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried Italian herbs
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 2 cups marinara sauce

To serve

• package Cappellos fettuccine
• parmesan shavings
• fresh basil

Cooking Instructions

• Heat a large skillet to medium heat.
• Brown and crumble sausage, cooking thoroughly.  Using a slotted spoon, remove sausage from pan and set aside.
• Heat the pan back to medium heat.  Sauté onions, mushrooms, garlic and herbs for 5 minutes in the leftover grease, or until fragrant.  Stir in the tomato paste and marinara.
• Simmer on low for 30 minutes, string occasionally.
• While the ragu is cooking, heat a large pot with salted, boiling water.
• Cook Cappellos pasta according to instructions.
• Strain pasta and top with a generous spoonful of Italian sausage ragu.  Garnish with parmesan shavings and fresh basil.

This & That

• If you don’t have a package of Capellos, serve with zucchini noddles, spaghetti squash or even by the spoonful!
• This tomato sauce is my absolute favorite and made with real ingredients without all the added sugars and preservatives.

The End