Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage

Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 12 min
Cooking Time: 35 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Here's a fall warmer, a dish that's sure to get everyone to the table the minute it comes out of the oven.

Ingredients
3/4 pound raw turkey sausage, casings removed (We used sweet Italian Sausage)
1 medium onion(s), chopped
1 medium green pepper(s), chopped
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp canned tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
12 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta, ziti, cooked according to package directions (We used whole-wheat penne because we couldn't find ziti)
6 oz shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese

Instructions
** Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.
** Crumble the sausage meat into a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes.
** Drain off any fat, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.
** Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook uncovered 5 minutes, stirring often.
** Stir in the pasta and half the grated cheese. Spread evenly into a 9- X 13-inch baking pan. Top evenly with the remaining cheese.
** Bake until the cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before slicing into 8 pieces and then serve.

For Weight Watchers People: POINTS® Value: 5