A Simple Supper to Share with Friends

On the National Front, today is Hard Candy Day. While I do like my sweets, I prefer my candy creamy. Yeah, as in chocolate truffles. One of these days I’m going to get really ambitious and made Truffles. It’s been a long, long time.

Clearly since I’m not a fan of Hard Candies, that’s not where we are going today. Nope, today is all about simple yet delicious suppers. I gotta say, this was more delicious than expected. Also more filling. So if you need a Italian Supper to feed a small army, this is for you. We had our fill at dinner, I made three lunches for later in the week and froze the rest for those times when cooking supper is not a part of my Wheelhouse. Enjoy!

Italian Sausage and Pepper with Penne Pasta
4 cups Penne Pasta
1 Yellow Bell Pepper
1 red Bell Pepper
1 medium Yellow Onion
2 lbs Italian Sausage Links
2 tablespoons Olive Oil, divided
24 oz Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce
Parmesan Cheese, optional

Bring a large pot of water to a full boil. Maintain boil until ready to cook the pasta according to package directions, about 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, stem, core and slice bell peppers into long strips. Peel and cut onion into long slivers. Set vegetables aside. Cut the sausage (in casing) into half-inch slices. Set aside.

Heat first tablespoon of oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage in 2 batches if necessary to avoid over-crowding. Cook sausage until well browned, stirring often. Remove the sausage from the skillet, pour off any accumulated fat.

Reduce heat to medium, add remaining olive oil. Stir the peppers and onions together in the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes to brown.

Return the sausage, mix well. Add pasta sauce, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until sausage is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Now would be a good time to cook the pasta in boiling water.

Drain pasta, return to the large pot. Pour sausage and peppers over the pasta. Mix well, then transfer to a large bowl for serving.

Start with a simple salad, warm garlic bread with the pasta supper and wine throughout the meal for a lovely evening.

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O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all His people:
come to save us without delay!