Sausage and Pepper Baked Ziti:
Amount: Serves 8 (makes 2 casseroles)
Ingredients:
- 1lb sausage (hot, sweet, or smoked)
- 4 cloves garlic (crushed w/ press)
- 2 large peppers (color of your choice)- cut into strips
- 1lb (1 large) onion
- 1lb mushrooms
- 1 28oz can of whole tomatoes in puree
- 1 15oz can of tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1lb Ziti
- 1 80z package (2 cups) of mozzarella
- 1/2 cup of grated parmesan
Directions:
1. In a large skillet cook sausage for 10 minutes or until brown
* after cooked, remove and put in a large bowl
2. Cut onion, peppers, mushrooms, and garlic
3. Cook pasta according to package, then put aside in a separate large bowl
* reserve 1/2 cup pasta water to add later
*** pre-heat oven to 400
4. Cook onions, peppers, mushrooms, and garlic in same skillet that sausage was cooked in (use sausage drippings to cook veggies)- cook for 8-10 minutes covered- stir and cook 8 more minutes uncovered, or until veggies are tender
5. Add tomatoes in puree, and tomato puree to veggies- bring to a boil (use spoon to break up whole tomatoes while cooking)
6. Reduce heat to medium low and cover- cook for 10 minutes
7. Add sauce/veggies to large bowl that the noodles are in, toss
8. Add sausage, toss
9. Add mozzarella cheese, toss
10. Divide evenly into 2, 2 1/2 quart dishes
11. Bake 1 casserole for 20-25 minutes (uncovered) or until top browns
* freeze or cook the second casserole depending on how many people you are serving :)
Congrats Katie and Dan!!!! Your weekend was perfect and soo much fun!!! It was so good seeing everyone, we miss you all so much!!!! Now we need to plan another get together :):)
So, Kel and Christi are in Atlanta and decided to decorate Katie and Dan's new house for when they get home. We also made this delicious, looking, meal for them to eat when they get home. This way they can relax, unpack, open presents, and enjoy themselves as newlyweds :) We hope you enjoy and we love you both!!
Love,
Kel and Christi
