Three Cheese Italian Sausage Rosa Pasta Bake and Terrible Pups

Whenever our girls happen to come back home at the same time, whether it's just for family dinner night, or a weekend, we have a saying..."the band is back together again"!

Our dogs are particularly ecstatic when they come home, because their people (pack) is complete once again!

The problem is, that when the band breaks up (the girls go back home to their campuses/apartments), the pups get very sad and extra, extra bad.

Exhibit A:  When I get into the shower I come out of my bathroom to this...the pups feel the need to have a Kong fest and shred my bed in 3.5 seconds flat!

If my morning wasn't frustrating enough, when I am on the bus coming home, my husband texts me a photo of my home office.  I wanted to cry, but I was on the bus, so I couldn't cry.  I am not a fan of my Labradors this week.  They are making it their personal mission to be on a search and destroy mission!

Since I am still trying to figure out (and not very successfully) how to cook for 2 people, I end up making large dishes and dividing them into 2 and giving to girls for their kitchens and roommates.

This pasta dish was the perfect thing to divide up...one pan for the "band members", and one pan for me and my husband.  

The original recipe calls for cooked, shredded chicken breast, but I have been experimenting so much with chicken as of late, I changed it up to Italian sausage...and it was awesome!

Three Cheese Italian Sausage Rosa Pasta Bake

Adapted from Plain Chicken's "Three Cheese Chicken Rosa Pasta Bake"

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta

1-1/2 to 2 pounds ground Italian sausage

2 (15 ounce) jars Bertolli Four Cheese Rosa Sauce

1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain.

While pasta is boiling, cook the Italian sausage in a skillet on medium-high heat, until cooked through.  Drain any grease/oil.

In a very large bowl, stir together the cooked sausage, Four Cheese Rosa sauce, sour cream, ricotta cheese, garlic, eggs, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, parsley, and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.  Add the cooked pasta and mix well.

Pour pasta mixture into prepared pan.  Top with remaining 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.

Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes or until bubbly.

One Year Ago: Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

Two Years Ago: No Post

Three Years Ago: Pluot Crostada Galette

Four Years Ago: Ribdemption and BLT Macaroni Salad

Five Years Ago: Spaetzle with Gruyere and Carmelized Onions

Six Years Ago: Greek Salsa Chicken