Italian sausage, pepper 'n' pasta bake

Instructions

• To cook pasta, fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, slice sausages into thick rounds. Then lightly coat a large, wide frying pan with oil and set over medium heat. When hot, add sausages. Turn frequently until sausages are browned, 7 minutes.

• Meanwhile, coarsely chop peppers. Cut mozzarella into small cubes. When sausages are browned, push to side of pan. Add peppers and a little more oil, if needed. Stir often until peppers start to soften, 3 minutes. Then stir in pasta sauce. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up and stir in any brown bits from pan bottom to flavour sauce. Stir often until hot and bubbly, from 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

• Position oven rack in top third of oven and preheat oven to 450F (230C). Once water boils, add pasta. Boil until almost al dente, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well, then turn into a 9x13-inch (3-L) baking dish. Stir in sausage mixture and mozzarella. Spread mixture evenly in dish. In a small bowl, stir Parmesan with bread crumbs and Italian seasoning. Sprinkle over pasta. Bake, uncovered, until top is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Excellent with a caesar or spinach salad.