The sweet pear, salty sausage and creamy blue cheese are a wonderful combination in this dish. It tastes just like something you'd get at a great restaurant. —Debby Harden, Williamston, Michigan

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked rigatoni or large tube pasta
• 2 italian turkey sausage links (4 ounces each), casings removed
• 2 medium pears, sliced
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, divided
• toasted sliced almonds, optional

Directions

1. Cook rigatoni according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink, 6-8 minutes, breaking into large crumbles. Add pears; cook and stir until lightly browned, 3-5 minutes.
3. Drain rigatoni; add to sausage mixture. Add spinach, cream and 1/4 cup cheese; cook until spinach is wilted, 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top with remaining cheese. If desired, sprinkle with almonds.