Spicy Sausage and Pumpkin Noodles *

 6 oz linguine pasta
1 pound italian sausage (mild or spicy)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
2 Tbsp hoisin sauce
1 bunch green onions, sliced, white and green parts separated
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 Tbsp lime juice
1-2 Tbsp gochujang
1 tsp toasted sesame oil

Cook pasta according to pkg directions, reserving 1 cup pasta water once cooked.  In a large skillet, cook italian sausage. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper and paprika.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until sausage is browned, about 4-5 minutes more.  Place sausage on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb grease.  Wipe out skillet to remove most of the grease.  Leave about 1-2 tsp worth grease in pan.  If there is not that much grease, just add a little EVOO.   Stir in white parts of green onions, jalapeno, and garlic.  Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring frequently to make sure garlic doesn't burn.  Add hoisin sauce, pumpkin, lime juice, gochujang and sesame oil to skillet.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes.  Add pasta and sausage and toss to coat.  Add pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, and stir.  Once you reach desired consistency, stop adding pasta water.  Consistency should not be watery, It should be a thicker liquid.  Garnish with green parts of green onions.  

Serves 4