Pasta with Sausage and Cream

• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 pound ziti or other cut pasta
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta and add salt.
2. Put the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat.
3. As it melts, crumble the sausage meat into it, making the bits 1/2 inch or less in size.
4. Add the cream and adjust the heat so that the mixture simmers gently.
5. Cook the pasta until it is tender but not at all mushy.
6. Drain, reserving about a cup of the cooking water.
7. Dress the pasta with the sauce, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid if necessary.
8. Taste and adjust the seasoning, toss with the Parmesan, and serve.
9. This is simpler, lighter, and just as good in its own way: in step 1, replace the butter with olive oil, omit the cream, and add 1/2 cup water to the sausage.

salt, butter, sweet, heavy cream, pasta, parmesan cheese

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pasta-with-sausage-and-cream-385930 (may not work)