Spaghetti's On

Add this no-fuss weeknight staple to your family's stash of best recipes.

Good news! You can make Spaghetti With Sausage and Peppers in about 40 minutes, including prep time. Instead of chopping and blending the recipe's vegetables into the sauce, our reader's version showcases the vibrant colors and textures of the peppers and onions. Plus, if you have a picky eater in the family, the veggies are easy to remove.

Round out your menu with a side of steamed broccoli or assorted salad greens served with your favorite vinaigrette. And don't forget that big basket of warm garlic-cheese bread.

-CHARLA DRAPER

Spaghetti With Sausage and Peppers

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

PREP: 20MIN., COOK: 20 MIN.

8 oz. uncooked spaghetti

1 (1-lb.) package mild Italian sausage, casings removed

1 medium onion, cut into eighths

1 medium-size green bell pepper, cut into strips

1 medium-size red or yellow bell pepper, cut into strips

2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, breaking sausage into pieces while cooking. Remove sausage and drippings from Dutch oven, and drain well on paper towels.

3. Sauté onion and next 3 ingredients in hot oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in tomatoes, salt, and pepper; cook 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in sausage, pasta, and cheese. Transfer mixture to serving platter, and serve immediately. RUDETTE GELISH

PLAYA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA

To freeze: Prepare recipe as directed. Cool 30 minutes. Place pasta mixture in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator 24 hours. Preheat oven to 350°. Remove and discard plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Turkey Spaghetti With Sausage and Peppers: Substitute 1 (1-lb.) package Italian turkey sausage for mild Italian sausage. Remove and discard casings from sausage. Increase olive oil to 2 Tbsp. Cook sausage in 1 Tbsp. hot oil as directed in Step 2. Discard any drippings in Dutch oven. Proceed with recipe as directed, sauteing onion and next 3 ingredients in remaining 1 Tbsp. oil.

Look Past the Ground Beef

Try fresh Italian sausage instead. It adds extra flavor to recipes, and you can find it in the meat case at your supermarket. If you're trying this sausage for the first time, cut through the casing lengthwise on one side of each sausage. Remove the meat, and place it in a large nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, discarding the casings. Cook the sausage over medium-high heat for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until the meat is no longer pink.

* For More Info: Quick supper ideas every day: southernliving.com/supper

Dress up dinner with colorful and versatile Spaghetti With Sausage and Peppers. Serve it right away, or freeze it for up to two months.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Feb 2008
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