Thought for the day

When you replace “why is this happening to me?” with “what is this trying to teach me?” Everything shifts

-Make your mark

Daily thought

If you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem

-African Proverb

lean and creamy sausage pasta

Fed up of your daily chicken, rice and broccoli meal prep? Try this super-lean, high-protein creamy sausage pasta for your next meal prep session.

Try using quark in place of cream cheese and reduced-fat sausages to keep this pasta lean – without skimping on flavour

Ingredients

• 1 tsp. Coconut oil
• 1 leek (finely sliced)
• 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
• 8 reduced-fat pork sausages (sliced) (I used Marks and Spencers skinny sausages)
• 200g quark
• 4 large beef tomatoes
• 240g (dry weight) wholemeal penne pasta
• 1 tsp. sea salt, 1 tsp. black pepper and 1 tsp. dried chilli flakes
• 700ml water
• Handful fresh basil leaves

Makes: 4 meals

Method

1. Add the coconut oil to a large, non-stick pan on a medium to high heat. Add the sliced leek into the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and pan fry for a further 2 minutes, then add the sliced sausages and fry for 6-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are brown on all sides.

2. Get your tomatoes and some basil and blend together (in a blender)

3. Next, add the water to the dried pasta and bring to the boil, drain water out and then add in the tomato and basil mixture, turn the heat down and simmer for 15-20 minutes, uncovered. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a little more water and stir.

4. Once the pasta mixture is cooked through, stir through the quark and season with salt, pepper and chilli flakes. Heat through for 2-3 minutes, then divide amongst dishes and top with the remainder of the fresh basil leaves.

I was pleasantly surprised by this meal, easy to make and really tasty. Give it a try and let me know how you get on.

Daily Thought