Sweet Italian Sausage Spaghetti Sauce

I used rotini, however this sauce is great over spaghetti, stuffed manicotti, shells, lasagna, or a stuffed cabbage or pepper. It's pretty universal, and depending on how much meat you want for the dish can be doubled. I used two links of italian sausage. The best way to cook the sausage is to cut open the casing and fry the sausage after you have crumbled it. Adding sugar helps bring out the intensity of the tomatoes and balances the acidity. Once you fry the peppers, onions and sausage, everything can be put in a crockpot to cook for several hours. I topped the pasta with ricotta cheese. Feel free to omit if trying to keep the calories and fat lower.

Ingredients:

• 1 32 oz can crushed tomatoes with basil
• 4 oz tomato paste
• 1/4-1/2 cup water
• 3 tsp sugar
• 2 sweet italian sausage links
• 1/2 red onion
• 1 green pepper
• red pepper flakes
• salt
• pepper
• garlic
• onion flakes
• pasta
• ricotta cheese
  

Directions:

• Brown peppers, onions, and meat in pan
• Pour all ingredients into the crock pot
• Add spices and salt
• Cook on high for 2-3 hours

Serve hot with pasta
Stuff shells or manicotti with ricotta and spinach
Bake until cheese is melted

Enjoy!!