04/28/2026
I opted to prepare a dish of penne pasta with Italian mild sausage, also referred to as Penne Salisicca, due to my inability to decide on a specific meal. The ingredients utilized included 2 cans of San Marzano tomatoes blended via an immersion blender, 4 garlic cloves minced, 1 small to medium-sized yellow onion, 1 minced red bell pepper, a handful of basil leaves (6-8), Italian seasoning, kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, honey, and baking soda, alongside 2 pounds of mild Italian sausage.
To create the meat sauce, I browned the sausage thoroughly, then added the onions, garlic, bell pepper, basil, and seasonings to reintroduce moisture and blend the flavors. The mixture was then brought to a medium-low heat and sautéed until the onions softened, at which point the blended tomatoes were added, along with honey to taste and a pinch of baking soda to mitigate acidity. Notably, the sauce's vibrant red color transformed to a darker hue during cooking. While the sauce was cooking, I commenced preparation of the pasta, which required approximately 12-15 minutes, including salting the water to enhance flavor transfer. The pasta can be served with the sauce mixed in or separately, and this sauce is versatile enough for use with spaghetti, lasagna, or chicken parmigiana without sausage, though experimentation with ingredients other than baking soda is encouraged.