Penne Pasta with Spicy Italian Sausage and Sun-Dried-Tomato Cream Sauce

This is my go-to recipe to my family and friends when the weather is cold here in the northern USA! 

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 cup chopped drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup whipping cream
1 7.25-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 pound penne pasta
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 pound Spicy Italian Sausage (optional) 

Directions

Step 1

Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add tomatoes, cream, red peppers and crushed red pepper; simmer over medium heat 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup basil and simmer 1 minute longer.

Step 2

Brown Italian sausage over medium heat until fully cooked

Step 3

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Add sauce, Italian saugage, cheese and 1/2 cup basil and toss to coat. Add enough reserved cooking liquid to pasta to moisten if dry. Season with salt and pepper.