pat's Recipe

Fire-Roasted Tomato and Italian Sausage Grinders

Category: Crockpot Sandwiches

10 uncooked hot or sweet Italian sausage links (about 2 1/2 pounds total)
2 14.5-ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 French-style rolls or hoagie buns, split
10 slices provolone cheese, halved
3/4 cup roasted red sweet peppers, drained and cut into thin strips

Directions
1. Place sausage links in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. For sauce, stir in undrained diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, crushed red pepper, and black pepper.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours.

3. To serve, preheat broiler. Place the sausage links on roll bottoms, reserving sauce in cooker. Place a half-slice of cheese on top of each sausage link and a half-slice of cheese on the cut side of each roll top. Place roll bottoms with sausage on a baking sheet. Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

4. To serve, add roasted peppers and roll tops. Serve reserved sauce in individual serving bowls for dipping.

Makes 10 sandwiches.