Italian Casserole For A Crowd Food

LINDA'S FANTABULOUS ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium low heat. Spread the oil in the pan.
• Prick the sausage links to keep them from splitting open while cooking and to avoid getting burned by hot grease. If you like, you can use all sweet or any combination of sweet to hot you like(separate the links).
• Brown the sausages very slowly in the skillet for 40 minutes or until browned all over and sticky.
• If you can, slice them on the diagonal about 1/2 inch thick while they are still in the pan to preserve any liquids and tasty bits. If you can't slice in the pan just do it on a platter to reserve that goodness and re-introduce it to the pan - use a little water to rinse the juices back to the pan.
• Add the garlic and sliced onions to the pan and cook until they are carmelized and soft. You may add water at this point to help loosen the fond, deglazing the pan. Once the pan is deglazed add the herbs to the pan. This may take another 20 minutes to cook.
• Add the peppers and the rest of the water and cook for another 20 minutes. You don't want your peppers to lose all of their color so eyeball them.
• Store in the fridge overnight. In the morning dump everything into crock pots to re-heat and cook on low for 2 - 4 hours. I sometimes reheat in a pan to make sure everything is up to temp before the party.
• A lot of people think there are tomatoes in this dish but there are not.

ITALIAN CASSEROLE FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions; set aside.
• Cook sausage, ground beef, onion and green pepper until meat is done and vegetables are tender; drain fat.
• Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings; simmer for 15 minutes.
• Stir in corn, olives, and noodles; mix well.
• Divide into 2 oiled 9x13 baking dishes and top with cheese.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350°F.

ITALIAN-INSPIRED CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook sausage, beef, onion and green pepper until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add corn and olives. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in noodles. , Pour into two greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes. Top with cheese. Cover and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.

ITALIAN PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, mushrooms and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Add to beef mixture and gently stir in sliced plum tomatoes. , Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.