Baked Pasta or Baked Ziti

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

1/2 lb. hot Italian sausage, skinned
1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage, skinned
1 large and 1 medium onion, minced (about 1-1/2 cups)
1-1/2 lbs. fresh mushrooms, sliced, or 3 cans (4 oz. each) mushroom pieces, drained
3 lbs. fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or 6 cups drained, canned tomatoes
1/2 cup minced bell peppers
1/2 tsp. dried sage leaves, crumbled
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 cup water
1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese, diced
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps

Combine sausage, onion, and mushrooms in a large, heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly to break up sausage. Continue cooking until all the fat has cooked out of the sausage (about 10 minutes). Pour off excess fat.

Add the remaining ingredients, except the mozzarella and the Parmesan. Simmer, uncovered, over very low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Parboil ziti or other pasta. Drain, put in a deep casserole dish, cover with hot sauce, and mix well. Stir in the mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan and mix well. Sprinkle on remaining Parmesan, cover and bake in a preheated 350° F. oven for 15 minutes.

Remove cover and continue baking for 10 minutes, or until bubbly.