Penne Arrabbiata {Fast & Easy }

When our family is in the midst of sports craziness, I like to try as much as I can to still feed them with filling, fuel-filled meals. Our family has a “Eat Out” rule…simply that we get one meal out a week and it’s a meal that we all gather at together. This helps feed my ambition to have decent meals during the week, because running through a drive through for convenience isn’t an option (I must admit, out of complete desperation, I have broken our little rule; but rarely!). There is definitely some prep that needs to go into the week in order to get a decent meal ready each night, and Angela and I are excited that we will be sharing some of these prepping ideas with you soon! Tonight is a perfect example of when I would make this meal; we have one at basketball practice, another at diving and the last is off to a baseball winter workout. Of course, none of these practices are at the same time, but overlapping and at all different times. We make it a priority to sit down as a family every night for dinner.  But it’s a night like tonight that it’s just impossible, unless we didn’t eat until 9pm AND I don’t think I could hold off my food-loving, growing by the minute, eat-me-out-of-the-house boys off until 9pm! If I get the Penne Arrabbiata made about 4:30 in the afternoon OR even the night before, it’s super easy to scoop onto a plate and pop into the microwave for a reheat, add some bread and a quick salad and it’s a really yummy, filling meal.  What’s even better, is that this is even more flavorful on day 2! Also, because this is SO easy to make it’s one of my “go-to recipes” I use when we have a large group of people over. When people ask for the recipe I am almost embarrassed to share, because it is SO easy to make! Be forewarned, that the Penne Arrabbiata has a little bit of kick…if your family does not like spice, just leave out the crushed red pepper!