Sausage & Peppers Ziti Marinara

Sausage & Peppers Ziti Marinara

3 lbs sweet or hot Italian sausages links
2 1/2 cups green bell pepper, seeded & cut into 1” x 1/4” strips
2 cans Italian-style or plum tomatoes, including liquid (28 oz)
2 cans tomato puree (10 3/4 oz)
2 teaspoons garlic cloves, chopped finely
8 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup basil, fresh, chopped finely, firmly packed
Salt & pepper, to taste
2 lbs ziti or penne pasta, cooked according to package directions
Fresh parsley, chopped
Parmesan cheese, grated

Pre-heat oven to 350º. 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.

Saute pepper slices in olive oil until their crispness is lost, but not soft. Chop tomatoes or use a food processor on “pulse”; do not puree tomatoes. Combine chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic, olive oil and fresh basil in sauce pan. Bring to a simmer. Add sausage pieces and stir well.

Transfer cooked, drained pasta to large serving platter. Top with sausage & pepper marinara mixture. Garnish with parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Makes 8 servings