Spicy Rigatoni - you choose your spice level

This is a nice way to sneak green leafy vegetables into your family meals.  When preparing the Swiss chard, make sure to remove the thick center veins - that will remove most of the bitterness.  Chop it fine, but not so fine that it runs out with the water when drained through your colander.  The recipe calls for Hot Italian Sausage, but you can use Mild or you can add some hot sauce to kick it up a notch.

  4 Tsp Olive Oil                                                                        1/4 Tsp Salt

  1 Lb Hot Italian Sausage                                                          16 Ounce Rigatoni

  4 Clove Garlic                                                                         2 Cups Swiss Chard, Veined And

  29 Ounce Diced Tomatoes                                                      -Chopped

  2 Tbl Dried Basil                                                                     8 Ounce Part-Skim Mozzarella

  1 Tbl Dried Oregano                                                                1/4 Cup Parmesan

  1/2 Cup Marinara Sauce                                                         

Put water to cook pasta in a large pot and place over heat to bring to a boil and turn your oven to 375 degrees.  Once water is boiling, cook pasta to package directions.  Stir in the Swiss Chard for the last 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat oil over medium high heat.  Sauté sausage until browned.  Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant.  Add tomatoes, basil, oregano, sauce and salt and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and stir in the beans.  Maintain simmer until pasta is cooked.

When pasta is cooked, drain completely.  Stir into the sausage mixture.  Add Mozzarella and pour into a greased baking dish.  Top with Parmesan and bake for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Serves 10 - Per Serving: 445 Cal (42% from Fat, 16% from Protein, 42% from Carb); 17 g Protein; 21 g Tot Fat; 7 g Sat Fat; 10 g Mono Fat;  47 g Carb; 3 g Fiber; 10 g Sugar; 213 mg Calcium; 4 mg Iron; 1081 mg Sodium