Sausage & Peppers Ziti Marinara - cooking recipe

Ingredients

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

Preparation

Pre-heat oven to 350\u00b0F.
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.