Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage 
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 12 ounces of penne pasta
• 4-½ cups water
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium.  Squeeze sausage out of casing into pan and cook until browned, breaking up sausage with a spoon.  Remove cooked sausage to a plate.
2. Add chopped onion to the pan and cook about 5 minutes until soft, scraping sausage bits.
3. Add chopped pepper and crushed garlic, and cook 2 minutes.
4. Add pasta, diced tomatoes, water and sausage to the pan.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
5. Simmer for 15-18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and sauce is thickened.
6. Remove pan from heat.  Stir in cream cheese and add black pepper.
7. Refrigerate any leftovers within 2 hours.