Sausage-and-pepper Baked Ziti

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 1/2 lbs sweet italian sausage or 1 1/2 lbs hot italian sausage links, cut crosswise into 1-inch chunks
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 large green bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 28 ounces whole tomatoes in puree
• 15 ounces tomato puree
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 16 ounces ziti pasta
• 8 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese or 1/4 cup romano cheese

Recipe

• 1 in a deep nonstick 12" skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minute.
• 2 reduce heat to medium. discard all but 2 t sausage fat. add garlic, pepper and onion to sausage in skillet; cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 10 minute stir in whole tomatoes, tomato puree and salt; bring to a boil over medium heat, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minute.
• 3 meanwhile preheat oven to 400 degrees f. in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 2 min less than cooking time recommended on label.
• 4 drain pasta and return to pot; stir in sausage mixture to coat. add mozzarella and toss to combine. transfer pasta mixture to an ungreased 9x13" baking dish and spread it out evenly; sprinkle with grated cheese.
• 5 bake, uncovered, until top browns and sauce is bubbling, 20 to 25 minute let stand 10 min before serving.