ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH PEPPERS & ONIONS

Steps:

• 1. Bake the sausage with a little water in an oven @ 350 degrees for 10 minutes, then turn over and bake another 10 mins. (20 minutes total). I pierce the sausage to release some of the juices when I turn over. When you take sausage out, cut in halves.
• 2. Meanwhile, slice onions and peppers in large slices, lengthwise.
• 3. Add 1 large can of tomato sauce to bottom of crockpot. (You can use any kind of tomato sauce, honestly -- and just tomato sauce, NOT spaghetti sauce or w/ added flavors/ingredients.) Sprinkle just a bit of sugar over the sauce. You can add some fresh ground pepper, if you want.
• 4. Begin layering the sausage, some peppers & onions, then some more sauce, and continue. Once you get to the top, spread a whole layer of tomato paste to create a seal. Use as much tomato paste as you need to completely "seal" up the ingredients.
• 5. Cook in the crockpot on low for about 10 hours. Don't stir or lift up the lid -- you will ruin the whole consistency of the sausages. When the top layer of tomato paste starts to look a little bit brown, it probably is ready. The sausage should cut very easily w/ a fork.
• 6. Try this recipe before you begin adding Italian seasonings, wine, etc. It doesn't need anything & you don't need expensive sausage or sauces! You can either serve w/ pasta (preferably tortellini) or on hoagie rolls w/ some parm sprinkled on top. Delicious!