Mom Cooking: Pasta 'Jambalaya'

So now that I have even less time and ambition to get really creative in the kitchen, I'm doing a lot more 'pantry' dishes and/or one pot meals. Perfect for nights when you realize you only have half the ingredients for what you really wanted to cook and everyone's too tired to go out. This is one of those recipes that the magazine wanted to sound exotic so they threw in Cajun seasoning and viola!

Oil for pan
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tin diced tomatoes
1 tin beans, rinsed and drained (black and pinto both work well)
1/2 package sliced smoked sausage
1 fresh vegetable of some sort (squash, pepper, cup of okra, whatever you've got in the crisper).
1/2 package of rotini.

Boil your water and toss in your pasta.
Meanwhile:
Warm the oil, fry up the garlic, stir the veggies around with the seasoning.
Toss in the sausage.
Dump in canned ingredients and bring to a boil.
Lower heat and simmer for about ten minutes.

Toss with pasta to coat. Sprinkle with cheese if desired. Leftovers make great lunch. Toddlers love it.