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Easy Sausage & Peppers Recipe

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut in 1-inch thick strips
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium white onion, cut in thin strips lengthwise (not rings)
2 Italian sausages, sweet or spicy (your choice)
1/4 tsp finely chopped Italian hot cherry peppers (OPTIONAL! Only if you want this to be spicy!)
2 1/2 cups of tomato sauce, either home made tomato sauce or your favorite bottled pasta sauce
Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:
Toss the pepper strips in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle a little salt on them and place them in a pan under the broiler until they are tender and the skins start to blacken.

In a large skillet saute the onions and garlic in the remaining olive oil until soft. Take the sausages and with your fingers, break them up in bite-sized chunks - you do not want to slice them because you want them to have a crumbly texture - and add them to the pan and cook until nicely browned. Add the roasted peppers to the pan along with the chopped cherry peppers if you're going spicy. Now add the tomato sauce and stir well. Add some salt & pepper to your taste, and let the whole thing simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the thin liquids have evaporated and the whole thing has a nice, saucy texture. Taste and season if needed.

This is wonderful served over pasta, but is also really good on polenta, pizza, or as a calzone stuffing. Or you can just pile it in a bowl and eat away! Grate some fresh parmesan or romano over it. Pairs well with garlic bread and a hearty red wine.

Related:
Cooking By Feel: Italian Ingredients And Flavors
Italian Template Recipe: Pasta, Meat, Greens, and Cheese
How To Make Pasta: Tips From My Italian Mother-in-Law
Ingredient Spotlight: Cucuzza Squash (Googootz)

(Image: Kathryn Hill)