Baked Pasta

This is the cooking recipe of the week on the board I visit daily. I was really excited to try this recipe, as Adam and I love pasta!!! Overall it was good, but it tasted a lot like baked ziti to me, and I am not a sausage fan, but it was very tasty, and something different.
Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomato, and Cheese (From: Cooking Light)

• 1 (1-pound) package uncooked ziti (short tube-shaped pasta)
• 1 pound hot turkey Italian sausage links (I bought ground sausage)
• 1 cup chopped onion (I used onion powder)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (I used garlic salt)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-diced tomatoes, undrained (see my change below)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (I used a sprinkle of dried)
• Cooking spray
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain the pasta, and set aside.

Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper, and tomatoes, and bring to a boil.

Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine cooked pasta, sausage mixture, and basil. Place half of the pasta mixture in a 4-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with half of mozzarella and half of Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

***Tips: I used about 20 oz of crushed tomatoes, and about 9 oz of diced tomatoes. I also per some suggestions doubled the amount of cheese. I used a full 8 oz bag of mozzarella and about 1/2 of parmesan. I also used dried basil about only a sprinkle.