Pasta with Peas and Spicy Sausage

At our house we shorten the name of this dish to "Pasta Yum," and it ends up being made nearly every week per my kids request. Despite the spice it really is not too hot for kids or people that don't like spicy stuff. It just adds a bit of flavor and interest. It is a simple quick dish that is a cinch to keep supplies for. It is our "pinch hit" favorite.


Pasta Yum:
Servings 10, Prep time: 10-15 minutes

1 - 1 pound package Jimmy Dean 'Hot' ground sausage. (You can use any kind you love but don't skimp on cheap stuff as there are so few ingredients the flavor of the sausage really defines the whole dish)
1 - 16 oz package of frozen peas
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. Red chili pepper flakes
1 - 16 box medium shell pasta (I prefer Barilla as the shells aren't too thick)
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
* Start a pot of salted water to boil for the pasta.
* In a skillet brown the sausage mixing in the pepper flakes. Eliminate excess fat off by letting the cooked sausage drain on some paper towels while you finish up the noodles.
* Add pasta to boiling water and cook for the time listed on the box (usually about 10 minutes)
* When the pasta is about 4-5 minutes from being done add in the bag of frozen peas to cook with the noodles. When finished drain the water from the pot reserving a 1/4 cup of the pasta water in a measuring cup or something.
* Combine pasta and peas with sausage and cheese and stir until everything is incorporated.
* Add in pasta water a tablespoon or so at a time to kind of bind it all together. You don't want it "wet" so less is more but it really does make a difference to use some.
* Salt and pepper to taste.