Today we finally have some relief from the scorching Southern California heat, just in time for the holiday.  Whenever we have an opportunity to grill we do, since it’s typically quicker, healthier (than say frying) and cooler than turning on the oven.

Walmart recently introduced Johnsonville’s new Brat Burger Patties, perfect for easy grilling.  They’re available in Original and Italian and can be found in the frozen section in grocery.  The quickest way to prepare them is to simply throw them on the grill frozen (how easy is that?).  Place on a whole wheat bun and top with your favorite veggies and spreads.

I decided to experiment since I like to make my own recipes (unlike the wife who prefers to stick to the cookbooks). Here is the recipe I created:

Whole Wheat Pasta With Sausage, Veggies, and Tomatoes

After grilling up two Italian Sausage Patties (about 20 minutes), chop them up and set them aside.

Next, chop up 2 cloves of garlic, 1/4 red onion, 1/4 red and 1/4 green bell pepper and sautee in about 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

In a skillet over medium heat, add cooked sausage, 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of tomato sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook 1/4 cup of whole wheat pasta for each person over medium heat.

Top the pasta with the tomato/meat mixture and fresh chopped basil.

You can find additional recipes using Johnsonville Brat Burger Patties here.

Disclosure: Caryn participates in the Walmart Moms program and is compensated for her time and honest opinions.  Recipe and Images: Rockin’ Mama.