Name: Italian Sausage with Peppers
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 5 Hungarian wax peppers; 1 large sweet yellow pepper; 1 large sweet red pepper; 2 medium sweet onions, chopped; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste; 1/2 cup water; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 bay leaves; 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes; 1/2 teaspoon dried basil; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon white pepper; 8 Italian sausage links (4 ounces each); 8 hoagie buns, split

Local fairs in these parts are famous for sausage and pepper sandwiches. I came up with my own baked recipe so our friends and family could get a taste year-round. —Becki Clemetson, Sharpsville, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

5 Hungarian wax peppers

1 large sweet yellow pepper

1 large sweet red pepper

2 medium sweet onions, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

1/2 cup water

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

8 Italian sausage links (4 ounces each)

8 hoagie buns, split

Instructions

1 Preheat oven to 350°. If desired, seed wax peppers; cut wax and bell peppers into 2-in. pieces. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat; add peppers and onions. Cook and stir until tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, water, garlic, bay leaves and seasonings; heat through.

2 Meanwhile, in another large skillet, brown sausages. Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with pepper mixture.

3 Cover and bake until a thermometer inserted in sausage reads 160°, 35-40 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Serve on buns.