Pizzeria-Style Sausage Pizza

Authentically Italian, this hearty pizza features provolone and mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, and pork sausage on a thick, bready crust. Serve with mixed greens.

1 pound fresh pork sausage mildly seasoned
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 can (8oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seed
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon oregano leaves
1 loaf frozen pizza dough, thawed
2 cups shredded provolone cheese
2 cups chopped tomatoes (seeds removed)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Brown pork sausage with green pepper in medium skillet; discard any drippings. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, fennel seed, sugar and oregano. Simmer 5 minutes.

Using 14-inch pizza pan or 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan, prepare pizza crust following package directions.

Layer provolone cheese, sausage mixture, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese on pizza crust.

Bake on lowest rack of oven at 375 degrees F. for 35-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Servings: 4
Source: National Pork Board