Italian Drunken Noodles

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Whilst we're not exactly experiencing summer temperatures, KK and I are still enjoying the long weekend! On Friday, we went to happy hour in NYC for a friend's birthday.  We started with a few beers at Stone Street Tavern, then moved next door to Mad Dog & Beans for margaritas with chips and guac! On Saturday, I ventured to the suburbs of west Jersey with a few girlfriends to visit my old roommate.  It was my first time seeing her "new" place, despite the fact that she moved there a year and a half ago.  We had brunch at 54 Main Bar & Grill - the Power Omelet (spinach, tomato, goat cheese) and home fried potatoes were delicious! For dinner, KK and I cooked up these Drunken Noodles and had movie night with our friend Rach.  We started off with Seeking a Friend For The End of The World, but quickly gave up on that, and switched to The Beach which was much better! The scenery reminded KK and I of our honeymoon in Thailand.  We actually visited the beach where the movie was filmed - Koh Phi Phi Leh!

Today we're taking care of a few things around the apartment, then heading down to Philly to see the Swikers tonight.  On Monday, we're having brunch with KK's friend from high school and their "new" (7 month old) baby who also live in Philly!

Our regular grocery store did not have Pappardelle, and we didn't think this meal would be the same with fettuccine or spaghetti.  Luckily I found a package at Sobsey's Produce and we were quickly back on track! I don't have pre-made Italian seasoning in my spice cabinet, so I improvised by using equal parts of basil, oregano, thyme, and sage.  Surprise, surprise - you'll notice I added crushed red pepper to the ingredient list, too! For the wine, I used V. Sattui Chardonnay, and we paired the meal with the remaining wine from the open bottle.  The pairing was okay.  If you use cooking wine for the dish, I might recommend a sweeter wine for pairing, such as an Albarino or Riesling.

I have a feeling KK and I will be fighting over the leftover portion of this meal!

Italian Drunken Noodles
Adapted from The Cozy Apron 
Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients
8 ounces Pappardelle noodles, uncooked
Olive oil
5 spicy Italian chicken sausage links
1 large onion, quartered and sliced thinly
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
1 orange bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup white wine, such as Chardonnay
28 oz. diced tomatoes with juice
½ tablespoon dried parsley
½ tablespoon dried basil

Directions
1. Cook Pappardelle according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

3. Remove casings from chicken sausage, crumble, and add to the pot in small chunks.  Cook sausage, allowing it to brown on each side 3-4 minutes.  Once cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove sausage from pot; plate and set aside.

4. Add sliced onion into the pan with the sausage drippings, and allow them to caramelize until golden, about 5 minutes.  Stir frequently to avoid burning.  Once cooked, season onions with salt and pepper, and add Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper.

5. Stir in sliced bell peppers to pot, and sauté for 2-3 minutes with the onions.  Once peppers are tender, add minced garlic and stir continuously for 30 seconds.  Add white wine and allow to cook until almost completely reduced, about 5 minutes.

6.  Add diced tomatoes and browned chicken sausage back to the pot.  Stir to combine and allow mixture to simmer for 3-4 minutes.

7. Remove pot from heat.  Add 1-2 additional tablespoons olive oil, parsley, basil, and stir in cooked Papparadelle; gently use tongs to toss and combine all ingredients.  Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.