Pasta with Sausage and Shiitake Mushroom Sauce

As I tasted this one, I had to ask myself why I've never made a pasta sauce with sausage and shiitakes before. It is out of this world!

1 1/4 lbs Italian sausage, removed from casing and crumbled
1 onion, chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t each: oregano and basil, rubbed
1 bay leaf
sugar and salt to taste
1 large can (28 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup beef broth
6 oz package shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 lb package pasta, cooked and drained (I used rotini) and returned to hot cook pot

Brown sausage and onion in a large frying pan or skillet. Drain well. Stir in garlic, cook another minute or so. Stir in herbs, sugar and salt and increase heat to high. Stir in tomato sauce and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1-2 hours, stirring frequently, til sauce is nice and thick. http://media-files.gather.com/images/d2/d348/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

During last 20 minutes, stir in mushrooms.

Remove bay leaf. Mix a generous couple ladles full of sauce with pasta in pasta cookpot. Serve with additional sauce.

I served the pasta with salads with homemade ranch, freshly ground black pepper and beets alongside fresh garlic toast.http://media-files.gather.com/images/d1/d348/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpghttp://media-files.gather.com/images/d998/d347/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

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