Recipe time!! Pasta with Kale and Italian Sausage

I've been through 4 weeks now of Phase I of the South Beach diet.  Now, I'm starting to introduce some whole wheat back into my diet and came across this amazing sounding recipe at Kalyn's Kitchen.  I had some beautiful organic red kale come in my CSA last week that was begging to be cooked.  So...it was time to try my hand at something other than Kale Chips.

Pasta with Kale and Italian Sausage

1 pound sweet Italian sausage
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 bunch kale, stems removed, washed and dried
1 pound whole wheat pasta
1 cup chicken broth
1 small can diced tomatoes, drained

In a large pot, bring well salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until desired doneness.  Drain and return to the pot.

While pasta is cooking, warm a skillet over medium heat with olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes.  Once hot, add sausage and cook until no longer pink. 

While sausage is cooking, take washed and dried kale and slice it into small slivers.

Add chicken broth to the sausage and then add the kale on top.  Cover and allow kale to steam for 5 minutes.  Stir kale into the sausage until it is well wilted.  Pour sausage and kale mixture over pasta and stir to combine.  Heat for a few more minutes while pasta absorbs the chicken broth.  Add in a 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese and tomatoes and stir well.

Serve and enjoy!