Sweet Italian Sausage Penne With Peppers – Perfect Comfort Food Recipe In 30 Minutes!

Sometimes you need a dose of good old-fashioned comfort food to get you through those chilly March days. Winter has been sticking around Ohio far too long this year, and this is a perfect, hearty dish that will warm you and your family right up! Even better, it can be made from start to finish in about 30 minutes. If you want to go a little lighter, just substitute chicken or turkey brats in place of the pork, and use wheat or vegetable pasta in place of the traditional.

Ingredients

1 package of Sweet Italian Brats (4-5)

3/4 cup of red wine (Merlot or Burgundy work well)

3/4 cup of sliced sweet peppers

1 Tablespoon Of Olive Oil

1/2 cup of diced sun-dried red tomatoes

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning

1 quart or jar of Pasta Sauce

(click here for the link to our homemade pasta sauce recipe)

1 small can of tomato paste (6 or 8 oz.)

1/2 cup of shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

1 lb. of Penne pasta  – (we used wheat)

Instructions:

1 – Slice up the Brats into 1/2 to 1″ thick pieces. Add olive oil to a large skillet and cook the brat chunks on medium high heat until they are completely browned on all sides. (about 10 to 15 minutes)

2 – Add the sliced sweet peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and chopped garlic and saute for about 5 minutes, or until the peppers and tomatoes have just barely cooked through.

3 – Add in wine, and let the entire mixture continue to simmer. Continue cooking until the wine is reduced down to about half.

4 – Add in the pasta sauce, tomato paste, shredded cheese and Italian seasonings and turn down to medium-low heat and let simmer.

5 – Cook pasta in separate pot , drain and either mix and toss into sauce before serving, or plate up and ladle hot sauce over pasta.

When made with a pound of pasta – this well easily feed a family of four, with a little left over for a light lunch the next day!  You can also add some hot pepper flakes to make a great sweet and spicy pasta.  Enjoy!

– Mary and Jim

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