Gimme Lean Sausage Style Pasta

I have been cooking with Gimme Lean Sausage Style a lot lately. It is really tasty and adds a good shot of protein, where if I only used the veggies to make the same meal (which I often do), I would otherwise miss out on.
Try this excellent pasta dish. It is fast, easy and not too messy to make. One skillet and one pot to boil the pasta.

Gimme Lean Sausage Style Pasta
1/3 package Lightlife, Gimme Lean Sausage Style
6-8 oz pasta (I used Cavatappi and I love it, penne, elbows, anything)
1 bag of washed baby spinach
5-6 medium size mushrooms
1 small-medium onion
Garlic powder or 1-2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Basil (I had fresh – about a handful chopped, or a pinch of dry)
Favorite jar sauce (about 1/2 jar or less)
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
1.) Put a pot of water on to boil for pasta.
2.) Chop mushrooms and onions and toss in the skillet.
3.) Scoop Gimme Lean out of the tube in small chunks and put in the pan one by one. (gross part) Wash hands.
4.) Turn heat on high, wait till you hear sizzling and then carefully pour a liberal amount of olive oil into the pan. (You want to wait so the mushrooms don’t absorb it, they won’t if the pan is hot enough)
5.) Is the pasta water boiling? Then toss in the pasta. Set the timer.
6.) If you have fresh basil or garlic, chop it and get it ready.
7.) Stir the Gimme Lean Sausage and mushrooms and onions often, while they saut? over a high heat so it doesn’t burn, but gets very brown and crisp. (best that way) If you are using garlic powder sprinkle a nice (to your taste) amount over the mixture, season with salt & pepper, and stir.
8.) When the sausage is browned, toss in the fresh basil, fresh garlic (if you have it) and the bag of spinach. Turn down the heat to a simmer and stir until the spinach is cooked. (like a minute – very quick) Then pour in a bit of the pasta sauce, 1/4 – 1/3 of the jar. I like to cut the pasta sauce with water, about 50-50, because then it doesn’t overpower the vegetables.
9.) Hope you took the pasta off when it was al dente.
10.) Pour the sauce over the pasta and put some “cheese” over to finish it. I only had Veggie Shreds Mozzarella Flavor so I used that – almost vegan. You can use Soymage Vegan Parmesan Alternative to have a completely vegan meal.
Enjoy. Serves about 2 or so people.