Name: Raisin, Pine Nut, Swiss Chard, Apple, and Sausage Pasta
Yield: Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Cuisine: Pasta
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons raisins; 3/4 cup lukewarm water; 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed; 4 sprigs rosemary; 2 red apples, peeled, cored, and diced; 1 cup dry white wine or chicken broth; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 pound Swiss chard, stalks removed, julienned; 1 pound spaghetti or other thin ribbon pasta; 1/2 cup pine nuts; 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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This recipe, by Donna Pochoday-Stelmach, won Honorable Mention in The 2019 Old Farmer’s Almanac Recipe Contest. This sweet and savory pasta dish needs a spot on your dinner table–tonight!

Ingredients

6 tablespoons raisins

3/4 cup lukewarm water

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

4 sprigs rosemary

2 red apples, peeled, cored, and diced

1 cup dry white wine or chicken broth

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound Swiss chard, stalks removed, julienned

1 pound spaghetti or other thin ribbon pasta

1/2 cup pine nuts

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Soak raisins in lukewarm water.

In a skillet over medium heat, warm oil. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until just golden, about 1 minute. Add sausage and rosemary. Increase heat to medium high and cook for 3 minutes, breaking up sausage as it cooks. Reduce heat to low, add apples, stir for 1 minute, then add wine. Cook until wine reduces by half, another 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and remove rosemary stems.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add Swiss chard and return to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions for al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta cooking water.

Add pasta and Swiss chard to skillet. Toss gently, adding reserved pasta cooking water if needed.

Transfer to a serving bowl. Drain raisins and add to pasta along with pine nuts. Toss to combine. Sprinkle Parmesan over pasta. Serve immediately.