Olive Garden 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 italian sausages (hot or sweet)
• 1 1/3 cups green bell peppers, seeded & cut into 1-inch x 1/4-inch strips
• 1 (28 ounce) can italian-style including liquid or 1 (28 ounce) can plum tomatoes, including liquid
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can 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 penne pasta or 1 lb ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
• fresh parsley, chopped
• parmesan cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 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.
• 2 saute pepper slices in olive oil until their crispness is lost, but not soft.
• 3 chop tomatoes or use a food processor on "pulse"; do not puree tomatoes.
• 4 combine chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil in sauce pan. bring to a simmer. add sausage pieces and stir well.
• 5 transfer cooked, drained pasta to a large serving platter. top with sausage & pepper marinara mixture.
• 6 garnish with parsley and grated parmesan cheese.