Busy Night Pasta Jambalaya

I thought this past weekend was going to be incredibly busy.  Between a zoo field trip, two baseball games, two gymnastics classes, a birthday party, movies with friends, I assumed we’d have no time to breath.  Well a lucky thing happened.  It rained.  Baseball was cancelled!!!  I shouldn’t feel elated when that happens, after all, the season just started, but I was!  A busy weekend instantly turned into a free weekend.  I capitalized on that immediately!  I read!  I don’t  normally get to read during the day, but I found myself on the couch with The Hunger Games Trilogy.  I finished books two and three over the weekend!  Holy Cow!  Why did I wait so long to read these!  They are wonderfully written.  So many twists and turns.  I couldn’t put them down!  Which meant my family was going to suffer when it came to dinner.  I simply didn’t have time to whip up my usual gourmet meals (you can totally hear the sarcasm in that statement can’t you??).  I had to rely on a quick stand by and a family favorite: Pasta Jambalaya.  I always have these ingredients in my house, you probably do too or can adapt the recipe to fit what you do have in your home.  It’s quick, it’s tasty, it’s perfect for a busy night.

Pasta Jambalaya

Serves 4

1 lb  angel hair pasta

1 tbs olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 cup diced onion

1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon cajun seasoning

1 lb Kielbasa or smoked sausage,sliced

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in  a large skillet,  cook onions in olive oil until soft and translucent.  Add garlic and cook for one minute.  Add drained black beans and cajun seasoning.  Cook for about two minutes until black beans just begin to soften.  Add in canned tomatoes, juice and all.  Let mixture come to a boil and add sliced sausage.  Let simmer on low for 10 minutes.  Serve over cooked angel hair.  Top with cheese or hot sauce.

recipe adapted from Cooking Light