Italian Pasta Bake

Ooooh pasta, how I love thee!  :)  This is a scrumptious one pot pasta dish!  I serve most of my pasta dishes with a simple Caesar salad and you are good to go!  I use my beloved Le Creuset 3 1/2 quart brasier and it turns out perfect!  Enjoy everyone!!

Italian Pasta Bake

12 oz.  pene pasta noodles
1 lb.      Italian sausage (yes you can substitute for ground beef or chicken)
1/3 cup grated parmesan
15 oz.  can of tomato sauce
1/4 cup milk or heavy cream
2 cups  water
1/2        red onion
1 tbsp   chopped garlic
1 cup    chopped fresh spinach
1 tsp.    Italian seasoning
1 tsp.    salt
3-4       fresh basil leaves

Topping:
1/4       cup grated parmesan
1/2       cup panko bread crumbs
1/2       cup shredded mozzarella
2 tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

- In a large oven safe sauté pan, brown the Italian sausage in a couple tbsp. of olive oil.
- Add in sliced red onion, spinach leaves and Italian seasoning and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce, cream, water and basil leaves and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in 1/3 cup of grated parmesan and uncooked noodles and at lid and place in a 375 F oven for 20-25 minutes (or until pasta is cooked).
- In a small bowl, mix together the topping ingredients. 
- When pasta is fully cooked, take dish out of the oven, remove the lid and turn on your broiler.
- Add the "topping" to the dish and place under broiler until golden brown and bubbly.

Serve up and dive in!!!  :)