Mozzarella Stuffed Sausage Meatballs and Pesto Penne

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. sausage, removed from casing
• 1 whole onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese cut into small cubes
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped

Pesto Sauce

• 3 cups of basil leaves
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 tsp pine nuts
• 1 tsp Parmesan cheese

Penne

• 16 oz penne noodles
• 1 pot of hot water, boiling

Cooking

1. take the sausage meat and form them into medium-small-ish sized meatballs (or your desired size). poke a hole in them with your finger and place the cheese cube in the hole. do this to each of them until no more sausage/cheese is left.
2. in a deep sided sauce pot or dutch oven, add the meatballs and brown them until browned all around, but not completely cooked through. remove and place on a plate and set aside. in the same pot, add in the onion and garlic and cook until onions have taken on some color. return the meatballs. place a lid on the pot and place in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes.
3. while meatballs are cooking, in another pot, add the water and penne and boil noodles. while noodles are boiling and meatballs are cooking, add all the pesto ingredients in a food processor and combine. remove the pot with the meatballs from the oven and pour the pesto sauce in, followed by the drained noodles. mix and stir together for a bit, then return to the oven for another 2 - 5 minutes. remove, then serve and add more cheese if desired.

bon appetit