Fantasy Veggie Dinner Guest - BILLY JOEL

If I was asked which music I wanted to take to a desert island my dilemma would not be which artist to choose, but which of Billy Joel's albums to choose.
I love them all, but The Stranger contains some of my favourite songs of all time. 
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant  tells a story of youth turning to age and hope turning to reality, but it all takes place while life is lived and wine is enjoyed.

I would like to think that this pasta dish would evoke the right kind of atmosphere if Billy came to dinner. 

I would make sure I served it with a bottle of white and a bottle of red (or perhaps a bottle of rosé instead).

Feel free to make your own pasta, or buy it fresh or dried (the amount needed will vary).

SAUSAGE TAGLIATELLE

Serves 4

Ingredients 

2tbsp olive oil

2 red onions, finely chopped
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed
6 - 10 flat white mushrooms, brushed and sliced

14oz/ 400g can chopped tomatoes

1tbsp tomato puree

3tbsp chopped fresh parsley

8 vegetarian sausages, defrosted if frozen

½ tsp sugar

Pinch of salt and black pepper

450g fresh tagliatelle or 225g dried

Method

Sauce can be made in advance and heated when needed.

Heat 1tbsp oil in a large pan and fry onion and pepper until soft. Add garlic and cook for further 2-3 minutes.

Stir in chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, tomato puree, sugar, salt, pepper and chopped parsley.

In a separate, smaller pan, heat 1tbsp of oil and fry the vegetarian sausages.

When cooked, chop into chunks and add to the sauce.

Simmer for 15 minutes until thickened.

When ready to eat

Cook pasta until al dente in boiling salted water.

Add pasta to sauce and mix well.

Serve with grated cheese and basil leaves. 

And listen to Billy as you eat...