Ingredients

  • 1 lb mild Italian sausage
  • 1 (8 ounce) carton fresh mushrooms
  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded
  • 1 small yellow onion, peeled
  • 5 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 0.5 (2/3 ounce) packet dried Italian salad dressing mix (I use Good Seasons)
  • 12 teaspoon salt
  • 14 teaspoon black pepper

Method

  • Squeeze the sausage out of the casings into a skillet and brown; you can also "brown" the meat in a microwave colander.
  • Drain off fat and add meat to crock pot.
  • In a food processor, combine mushrooms, onion, garlic, and bell pepper and process until minced.
  • If you don't have a food processor, just chop well.
  • Add mixture to crock pot.
  • Add tomato sauce, tomatoes (with juice) and tomato paste.
  • Stir in the salt, pepper and dry salad dressing mix.
  • Stir through, cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or 4 hours on high.
  • Serve over hot pasta.
  • I prefer whole wheat spaghetti or linguine.
  • Top with shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese.