I’m starting to embrace fall and everything it has to offer. I have decided I’m fully ready to put away my shorts and summer tops and bring out the cozy sweaters (let’s be real, my sweats are what’re really calling my name). Of course, it helps that the weather has been gorgeous, the sun shining, and I’m not yet hustling to and from my car due to the sharp chill in the air. Nevertheless, fall is at its finest here in the Midwest.

In fact, on my day off this week, for some reason I woke up with this great need and desire to make my life surrounded with all things fall. So, our house has been switched for the seasons with fall colors, pinecones, and fall leaves positioned decoratively throughout…never mind the trees with green leaves still prospering and doing well outside…

Naturally, no fall is complete without the smell of pumpkin in the air, so to top it all off, I made up a few mini loaves of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread from Erin at Well Plated (amazing!) to send off to our new neighbors. If I enjoyed PSLs, I’m sure one of those would be in my hand as well.

The one thing I really love about the change of seasons, though? The change in food! Fall, to me, is when comfort food starts coming out, pots of hearty soup are simmering on the stove again, and all things pumpkin and apple abound. This Smoked Sausage & Kale Alfredo is right up there with the best comfort food. It’s creamy, rich, and warms you right up — both from its warmth and the little bit of kick it has.

You know those meals where you’re disappointed when the leftovers are gone? That’s this meal. Philip and I were practically arguing over who could finish off the last bit of leftovers we had this week. And this is the real kicker on how good this recipe is — upon finishing the last bites of his meal (we managed to each scrape enough leftovers between the two of us), Philip said this was one of his favorite meals I make (!). I was floored.

Out of all the meals I’ve made for him (and that’s a lot of meals), this less-than-30-minute meal takes the cake! If this meal took an hour+ to make, I’d been like, “that’s great, honey, but we’re only having this once a year on your birthday.” But this meal — this one we could have on a random Monday when I get home at 6:00. Dinner is served at 6:30.

Because this meal is just slightly on the richer side with the half and half and sausage, it’s not a meal I will make every week for Philip, but it does have whole grain pasta and a good helping of kale in it (or spinach, if you prefer), which definitely gives this Alfredo a boost in nutrition. Not to mention, there’s no jar of Alfredo sauce dumped in. The ingredient list is short and the flavor is seriously out of this world with all the spices and sun dried tomatoes added in.

I’ve made this Smoked Sausage & Kale Alfredo when we’ve had guests come for dinner and I’ve made this on a random Monday for just the two of us — it’s versatile, delicious, flavorful, and nobody has to know it only took you 30 minutes to whip up.

Smoked Sausage & Kale Alfredo

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 package (14 ounces) smoked turkey sausage, diagonally cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
• 1 pound whole-grain pasta of your choice (I used a combination of penne and rotini, because that’s what I had)
• 1/4 cup julienne sun dried tomatoes in oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups half and half
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (less if you are sensitive to heat)
• 2 cups chopped kale (or spinach)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

Directions:

1. Cook turkey sausage and garlic in large skillet over medium-high heat, turning occasionally for 5 minutes or until sausage is lightly browned.
2. Meanwhile, prepare whole-grain pasta according to package directions and drain.
3. Add half and half, dry mustard, and crushed red pepper to skillet with sausage; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer gently for 3-4 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken.
4. Stir in kale and sun dried tomatoes; stir gently until kale wilts. Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan cheese, add pasta to sauce and toss.
5. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Adapted from: Tidy Mom