Sausage Flatbread W Leeks Ricotta Burrata Food

HOMEMADE BREAKFAST SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Place the pork in a large bowl and add the brown sugar, sage, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Mix well using your hands. Form patties from heaping 1/4 cups of the mixture, about 1/3-inch thick.
• Melt the butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage patties in two batches until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, about 5 minutes per side. Serve warm with eggs or pancakes. (See Cook's Note.)

CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Crumble sausage into skillet, using a spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook until starting to brown, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes (if using), and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in whole tomatoes and their juice, using a spoon to break them up. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
• Stir in pasta and 1 cup water and return to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat, pluck out the bay leaves, and fold in about a third of the mozzarella.
• Top pasta with remaining mozzarella and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then transfer to oven. Bake until pasta is tender when poked with a fork, and cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. (If you'd like a more deeply browned topping, run the pan under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes.) Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Top with basil, plenty of black pepper, and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.