Spaghetti Sauce With Hot Italian Sausage

Ingredients

• 1 (1.5-2 lb) package hot Italian sausage, fresh (5-6 links)
• 1 (24-28 ounce) jar of your favorite pre-made spaghetti sauce, no meat
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes, crushed fire roasted (in organic isle, I like Muir Glen brand)
• 4-5 garlic cloves, diced
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, chopped
• 5-6 tablespoons dried Italian seasoning
• salt, taste
• pepper, taste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 bay leaves
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 500 degrees, line baking sheet or glass casserole with foil for easy clean up.

2. 2

   Chop onion, pepper and garlic while oven is preheating.

3. 3

   Put whole sausages on foil lined pan/casserole, bake 20- 30 minutes or until golden brown and expelling some juices, remove and let cool slightly.

4. 4

   While sausage is cooking, in a pan large enough for all ingredients, over medium heat, saute onions and peppers in olive oil 5-7 minutes until onions are almost translucent, add garlic and saute for 2 more minutes (DO NOT allow garlic to get brown or it will be bitter), reduce heat to simmer.

5. 5

   To pan of onions/peppers/garlic add jar of pre-made sauce (fill empty jar with a splash of water or beer :) , close lid, shake to rinse, open and add to sauce), fire roasted tomatoes, bay leaves, italian seasoning, sugar, and smoked paprika.

6. 6

   Slice sausage into bite sized pieces on a steep angle, add to sauce. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to your taste during the last 30 minutes.

7. 7

   Serve over your favorite pasta with some grated cheese.

8. 8

   ENJOY!