Pasta with Sausage and Kale

Ingredients

• 4 large kale leaves*
• 1 (12-ounce) package bowtie pasta
• 3/4 pound hot Italian sausage
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth
• 4 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Preparation

1. Arrange kale in a steamer basket over boiling water; cover and steam 2 minutes. Drain. Remove thick stems, and cut leaves into thin strips; set aside.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
3. Remove and discard casings from sausage. Cook sausage in a Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink; drain.
4. Add onion to sausage in Dutch oven, and sauté 5 minutes. Add garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Add vinegar, and cook 3 minutes. Add chicken broth and kale; cook 5 minutes. Stir in basil and next 3 ingredients; cook 1 minute. Stir in pine nuts, pasta, and feta cheese; cook until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately.
5. *1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach may be substituted for kale. Omit steaming procedure.