Sausage & Peppers Ziti Marinara

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 1/2 lbs sweet sausages or 1 1/2 lbs hot italian sausages, links
• 1 1/3 cups green bell peppers, seeded & cut into 1 x 1/4 strips
• 28 ounces italian-style tomatoes (including liquid) or 28 ounces plum tomatoes (including liquid)
• 10 3/4 ounces tomato puree
• 1 teaspoon garlic clove, chopped finely
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup basil, fresh, chopped finely, firmly packed
• salt & pepper
• 1 lb ziti pasta or 1 lb penne pasta, cooked according to package directions
• fresh parsley, chopped
• parmesan cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 pre-heat oven to 350ºf.
• 2 bake sausage links in oven for 20 minutes or until completely cooked. cut sausages in half lengthwise; then cut into 1/2" slices. result will be semi-circles of sausage. set aside.
• 3 saute pepper slices in olive oil until their crispness is lost, but not soft.
• 4 chop tomatoes or use a food processor on “pulseâ€?; do not puree tomatoes.
• 5 combine chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic, olive oil and fresh basil in sauce pan. bring to a simmer. add sausage pieces and stir well.
• 6 transfer cooked, drained pasta to large serving platter. top with sausage & pepper marinara mixture.
• 7 garnish with parsley and grated parmesan cheese.