KitchenMagician's Recipe

ZITI - SAUSAGE AND TOMATO

Category: Baked Pasta

Makes 4 servings.

1 T. olive oil
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. crushed chili peppers
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes
3 c. water
1 lb. ziti
1 lb. Italian sausage,precooked
1/2 c. whipping cream
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c. fresh basil chiffonade*
1 c. grated Mozzarella cheese
black pepper

Preheat oven to 475F.
Pour olive oil into cold skillet.
Add crushed garlic and bring to medium heat.
Saute until the garlic caramelizes; be careful garlic does not burn.
Stir in crushed chili peppers.
Add crushed tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil.
Stir in uncooked pasta, return to a boil.
Stir in sausage, whipping cream, Parmesan cheese and basil chiffonade.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top of pasta and season with black pepper.
Bake at 475F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until mozzarella is melted and slightly brown.

*To chiffonade basil leaves:
Roll the basil leaves lengthwise into a tight bundle.
Julienne the bundle crosswise.
This will result in thinly sliced strips of basil.