Sweet potato Sausage Hash

 With my husband's current allergy issues, he can no longer eat a lot of his favorite breakfasts.  My friend, Jenn, made this delicious recipe for us when I had a baby and simply replaced the pork sausage with turkey sausage.  We were amazed at how delicious this different combination of ingredients tasted!  We added a bit of maple syrup on top as well.

Ingredients:

1 lb pastured sausage

1 medium onion, chopped

2 medium-sized sweet potatoes

coconut oil

salt and pepper, to taste

rosemary, to taste

4 eggs

maple syrup to taste

Directions: Brown sausage. Transfer to a plate.

Reduce heat to medium-high, add 1 Tbsp coconut oil to cast iron skillet and saute onions until translucent. Transfer to the plate with the sausage.

Heat 1 Tbsp coconut oil over medium-high heat, add chopped sweet potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender (about 10 minutes). Sprinkle some rosemary over sweet potatoes. Cover skillet with a lid while cooking.  Add sausage and onions to the cast iron skillet and stir everything.

Crack four eggs over sweet potato hash. Place cast iron skillet in a preheated 425 degrees oven and cook for about 10-15 minutes until eggs are set.

Gigi's Overnight Brunch Casserole

This is always a favorite and I make it for Sunday mornings a lot because I do all the work on Saturday and let it chill til the morning.  I think sausage is the best meat to use but any of them work nicely.

Ingredients:
1 pound sausage or bacon or ham
1/2 pound grated sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices of bread
3-4 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
dash of pepper

Directions: Use a greased 9x13 casserole casserole dish.  Place bread as liner in bottom of dish.  Layer cheese, then meat. Sprinkle these evenly over the bread.  Mix together eggs, milk, salt, mustard, and pepper.  Pour over casserole.  Chill over night.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Mark's favorite Sausage Gravy

My husband orders sausage gravy almost every time he eats breakfast at a restaurant.  I used to think that something like that would be too difficult to make correctly but I finally got up the nerve to try it.  And guess what?  This recipe is super easy!!  It has never failed me.  I usually double the recipe and then freeze part of it for later and it always heats up nicely.  If I have time, I will make biscuits, but I most often serve it over sourdough toast and my husband loves it just the same.

Ingredients:
1 pound bulk sausage
3 cups milk
1/3 cup flour
pepper to taste

Directions: Brown sausage in skillet.  Stir in flour til dissolved.  Add milk.  Cook until it begins to bubble, stirring regularly.  Reduce heat and allow to simmer, stirring until thickened, about 2 minutes.  Season with pepper as  desired.

Cheesy Garlic, Sausage, and Bacon Pasta

My husband absolutely loves it when a recipe contains more than just one meat.  And I love anything with a cream sauce.  So this recipe makes us both happy!  I got the idea from this recipe, but the whole carbonara process seemed too time consuming to try out with a fussy baby on my hip so I just added some flour and cream to the bacon and sausage drippings to make a normal cream sauce for the pasta and it was delicious!  But I'm sure actually making it as carbonara wold be wonderful as well so feel free to give yourself more time than I did and try it out.

• 3 Tablespoons of flour
• 1 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 1 1/2 pound of spaghetti - cooked
• 1 lb of sliced smoked sausage
• 1/2 pound of bacon - after cooked cut into pieces
• 1- 2 teaspoon of minced garlic *depending on taste
• 1 cup of grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 extra cup of Italian blend cheeses* (can be the mixed bag style in stores)

Directions:

Fry bacon and use drippings to brown sausage. Reduce heat and add garlic to simmer with sausage.  Add a few tablespoons of flour to create a roux and mix well.  Add cold cream and stir til the sauce thickens. Add Italian blend cheese.  Add bacon and pasta and combine.  Sprinkle Parmesan on top and serve.

Summer Bounty Sausage Casserole

I stumbled upon this recipe when looking for a yummy but different way to enjoy our home-grown tomatoes and zucchini.  I wan't sure if my husband would like it since casseroles aren't his favorite, but both times I made it recently he raved about all the different flavors inside.  He wanted me to make sure I kept the recipe for next summer!  Thanks, Carrie, for such a winner!  The only thing I did differently was to make my own cream sauce instead of canned mushroom soup.  And I can never put just one clove of garlic in... I probably used at least 5!

• 1 lb . Ground Italian Pork Sausage
• 2 c . Finely Diced Zucchini
• 4 c . Cooked Rice, (white brown or long grain)
• 1 c . Diced Fresh Tomatoes
• 1 Clove Garlic, minced
• 10 oz . Cream of Mushroom Soup or homemade cream sauce
• 1/2 c . Low Fat Chicken Broth
• 1 c . Part Skim Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Start by preparing your rice. Depending on which kind you use this can take any where from 5-20 minutes. I used instant white rice so mine only took about 5 minutes.
3. While the rice is cooking, brown the sausage in a skillet on top of the stove until it is cooked through and no longer pink; then drain off any excess grease and place in a bowl.
4. Add the remaining ingredients minus the cheese to the bowl and mix well.
5. Place the mixture in an oven safe casserole dish, sprinkle with the cheese and bake for 30 minutes.

Biscuits and Gravy

I've been looking for a good biscuits and gravy recipe because my husband loves it.  He is quite picky but actually approved of this recipe!  Thanks to Little Lovey Doves for the recipe!

Sausage Gravy:
1 pound bulk sausage (like Jimmy Dean)    3 cups milk
1/3 cup flour                                                pepper to taste

Crumble and cook sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned. Stir in flour until dissolved and add milk. Cook until it just starts to bubble. Then reduce heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with pepper.

Buttermilk Biscuits:
3 1/4 cups Complete Southern Biscuit Mix
1 1/4 cup buttermilk, or substitute***


Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Gently mix together dry mix and buttermilk until just combined. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and pat or roll dough to a 1/2 thickness. Cut into equal portions (or use cookie cutter), and place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. If desired, you may also pull biscuits out of the oven a few minutes early, drizzle with melted butter, then return to the oven to finish baking and are golden brown. Serve hot with sausage gravy.

***Buttermilk Substitute:
1 1/4 milk
1 heaping tablespoon white vinegar

Mix together milk and vinegar. Let sit for at least 5 minutes, until the milk is lumpy and curdled. Use as directed for buttermilk

Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Pasta Skillet

Yummy!  Thanks to Yellow Bliss Road for this simple recipe!

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb Hillshire Farm Smoked Turkey Sausage, sliced
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic (about two fresh cloves)
• 2 cups Chicken Broth
• 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
• 8 oz dry pasta (any small pasta will do)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
• 1/3 cup chopped scallions, for garnish

Instructions

1. Add olive oil to a 4-5 quart saute pan over medium high heat. Add onions and sausage and cook until lightly browned. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
2. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, milk, pasta, and seasonings. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender.
3. Turn off the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and cover for about five minutes to allow cheese to melt. Top with sliced scallions and serve.
4. Makes about 4 servings

3 Cheese Stuffed Shells

The Pioneer Woman gives us another great recipe!  My husband liked this so much that I used the filling for my lasagna as well!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces, weight Jumbo Pasta Shells
• 30 ounces, weight Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 8 ounces, weight Parmesan Cheese, Grated, Divided
• 1/2 cup Grated Romano Cheese
• 1 whole Egg
• 12 leaves Basil, Chiffonade
• 2 Tablespoons Minced Parsley
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Chopped
• 5 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 pound Italian Sausage
• 1/2 cup Red Wine
• 1 whole (28 Oz. Size) Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 whole (15 Oz. Size) Crushed Tomatoes
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Minced Parsley

Cook pasta shells for half the cooking time; make sure not to overcook. Drain and rinse in cool water. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or two. Add Italian sausage and brown, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Pour in red wine and let it cook for a minute or two. 

Pour in cans of crushed tomatoes and stir. Add sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Check for seasonings; can add crushed red peppers if you like a little heat.

In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, half the Parmesan, Romano, egg, salt and pepper, basil, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Stir until combined. 

To assemble, coat the bottom of a baking dish with sauce. Fill each half-cooked shell with the cheese mixture. Place face down on the sauce. Repeat with shells until cheese mixture is gone. Top shells with remaining sauce. Sprinkle on extra Parmesan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Serve with crusty French bread.

New Favorite Breakfast Recipe: Farmer's Hash

My husband was quite excited about the potatoes in this recipe. He said it was one of the most filling breakfasts I have made. I thought it was delicious, but the girls weren't quite sure about the eggs mixed with the potatoes. Nevertheless, it is a delicious healthy breakfast that I will definitely add to the rotation. It would actually be good for dinner as well. And if you don't like your eggs cooked with the potatoes then you can certainly cook them separately, as they are the last ingredient to add in the skillet. Many thanks to Plan to Eat Blog for such a healthy, yummy, easy recipe! You should check out the blog for pictures and lots of other great recipes! I changed just a few things -- I used coconut oil since I didn't have any lard and I used sausage instead of bacon. I'm pretty sure that you could add just about any vegetable or meat to this recipe, and I'm sure I will try out many different options. We added cheddar cheese on top and it was really good. I think diced tomatoes would be delicious, but I knew my girls would not like them. I used half potatoes and half turnips, and no one even noticed the turnips.

• 2 tablespoons lard, tallow, or coconut oil
• 3 medium – large potatoes cut into ¼ inch dice
• ½ large onion, diced
• 5 strips of bacon, diced or ¼ – ½ lb of breakfast sausage
• 10-12 good eggs
• Garlic powder to taste
• Sea salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Optional add-ins or subs: Cheese, Bell or hot peppers, Greens, Swap turnips for some of the potatoes, Tomatoes

1. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat until good and hot. Add the lard and allow to melt. Add the potatoes, stir to coat in lard, and allow to cook 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally and seasoning with sea salt.
2. Add chopped onion, diced bacon, garlic powder and black pepper, and sauté another 5-10 minutes or until potatoes are tender and browned. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
3. Meanwhile, beat eggs. Once bacon is cooked and potatoes are tender pour eggs in, distributing evenly throughout the pan. Stir occasionally, as in scrambled eggs. Season if needed and serve once eggs are done to your liking. Now is a good time to add cheese if you desired.
4. Serve alongside hot coffee or tea in front of a wood stove and happily spend the morning without cries of hunger.

Quick Farmer's Market sausage skillet

We went to the Farmer's Market today so tonight I threw together this dish using only what we bought :)

Ingredients:

1 pound Sweet-Italian style sausage, casings removed

about 6 little potatoes, sliced thinly (I used 3 purple ones and 3 red ones)

3 zucchini, chopped (I used 1 green and 2 yellow)

1 small sweet onion, diced

5 cloves of garlic, chopped (we love our garlic but you might want to do less if you don't :)

Directions: Saute everything in the oil of your choice (I used coconut oil) on medium-low heat. I chopped the potatoes first because they take the longest to cook and threw the zucchini in the pan at the last minute because I didn't want it soggy. Sprinkle on whatever seasonings you like (I used a little sea salt and oregano). Top with a little of the cheese of your choice (I used Parmesan). I think diced tomatoes would also be delicious in this dish.

New Favorite Recipe: Sausage Pasta Presto

I've had this recipe in my "recipes to try" file for a while now, and I am so glad I finally tried it! It is now one of my favorite "go-to" recipes! It is simple to put together, can feed a lot of people because of the noodles, and very tasty. I'm going to have to start keeping my freezer stocked with cooked sausage so I can throw it together even faster whenever I am pinched on time. I added some sweet onions and cooked them with the red peppers because we love them. I also was out of feta cheese, so I just sprinkled on some parmesan cheese instead. And we don't like black olives, so we just skipped them. And Mark loved it! But I'm sure the feta is absolutely delicious as well. Thanks to Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking for another great recipe!

1 package (16 ounces) brown rice penne pasta (preferred due to the low amount of phytates over other whole grain pastas, unless sprouted)
2 teaspoon olive or coconut oil (coconut is best over high heat)
4-5 cups (1/4 inch thick) sliced red bell pepper (approx. 4 large bell peppers), each cut in half crosswise (I have also used various colored bell peppers in combination together with great results!)
1 teaspoon sea salt, divided
16 ounces Italian sausage (I love this with chicken Italian sausage from our local Trader Joe’s – delicious! I usually get by just fine with 1/2 pound)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup (about 1, 5-6 oz small container) crumbled feta cheese
1 (15 oz can) black olives, sliced (or kalamata, if desired)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Undercooking is best, as it will continue cooking when you add to the other ingredients.

Saute the bell peppers and 1/2 teaspoon salt for 2 minutes in olive or coconut oil. Remove casings, if necessary, from the sausage. Add sausage, oregano, and garlic to pan; cook for 4 minutes until sausage is done; stirring to crumble. Add pasta, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cheese, olives, and black pepper; cook for 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Tuscan Soup

This recipe is a spin-off of a popular soup at Olive Garden and I was excited that Passionate Homemaking posted it. The girls and I all loved it, but Mark wasn't a huge fan. But he is not usually a soup person, unless it is chili or Taco Soup that he can eat with chips :)

1/2 lb bacon (preferably natural, nitrate free)
1/2 lb chicken Italian sausage or bulk sausage of your choice
4-6 potatoes, diced
1 onion, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups chicken stock (you can easily replace some with water as you have available – I used 4 cups stock, 2 cups water)
2 cups whole milk, half & half, or raw cream
1 head of kale (5-6 leaves, as desired), chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
Parmesan cheese

In a small pan, cook the bacon. Save bacon grease, if desired. Cool and finely chop. In a large pot, cook the sausage, onions, and garlic (in bacon grease, if desired) until the sausage has browned. Crumble sausage as you cook it. Add the potatoes and stock and bring to a boil. Once it has reached a boil, turn it down to low and simmer for 20 minutes or so, just until the potatoes are tender. Add the milk, kale, and bacon and allow to cook for 5-10 minutes. Season to taste. Top with parmesan cheese for extra flavor! Enjoy! Makes 6-8 servings. Freezes well.

Bow Ties with sausage, tomato, and cream

A winner! Even my picky toddler wanted more :) The tomato cream sauce is so good! No red pepper flakes for us, though. And I used the fresh cream from my unpasturized milk instead of whipping cream and it was so yummy :) We might just eat it over quinoa some of the time since we try to avoid pasta as much as possible

Ingredients:
1 (12 ounce) package bow tie pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage (removed from the casing)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (can omit/decrease if your family doesn't like spicy dishes)
1/2 cup diced onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28 ounce) can Italian-style plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups heavy cream (or half & half to save on calories)
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain. Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, cream, and salt. Simmer until mixture thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir cooked pasta into sauce, and heat through. Sprinkle with parsley. http://www.momadvice.com/blog/2009/02/bow-ties-with-sausage-tomato-cream.htm

Smoky Bacon Wraps

These are not the least bit healthy (ha, ha) but are always a hit at parties, especially with the fellows :) And they are easy!

Ingredients:
1 pound sliced bacon
1 pkg. miniature smoked sausage links
1 cup brown sugar (maple syrup works as well :)

Directions: Cut each bacon strip in half widthwise. Wrap one piece of bacon around each sausage. Place in a foil-lined 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar (or maple syrup). Bake, uncovered, @ 400 for 30-40 minutes til bacon is crisp and sausage is heated through.

This post is a part of KK's SUYL breakfasts!

Zach and Brian's Sausage Hashbrown Casserole

A yummy casserole that is good for breakfast or any other meal :) I used to make it for my brother and his buddies in college and they loved it!

Ingredients:
2 lbs. Bulk pork sausage
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 carton (8oz) French dip
1 cup chopped onion
1 pkg. Frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed

Directions: Cook sausage in skillet until no longer pink; Drain off grease. In a large bowl, combine 1 ¾ cups cheese and next 7 ingredients; fold in potatoes. Spread half into a greased shallow 3 quart baking dish or rectangle casserole dish. Top with sausage and then remaining potato mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer until heated through.

Gigi's Overnight Brunch Casserole

This is great for dinner or for when you want to make breakfast ahead of time!

Ingredients:

1 lb. Sausage or bacon or ham

½ lb. Grated sharp cheddar cheese

8 slices of bread

3-4 eggs

2 cups milk

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. dry mustard

dash of pepper

Directions: Use a greased 9” x 13” casserole dish. Place bread as liner in bottom of dish. Layer cheese, then meat. Sprinkle these evenly over the bread. Mix together eggs, milk, salt, mustard, and pepper. Pour over casserole. Chill overnight. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Brandi's Creamy Sausage Rotelle Dip

My friend Brandi Miller makes this for game nights regularly and we just can't get enough of it! Its a fun dip because you can make it as spicy as you want. Mark and I are not big spicy people so we use maple sausage and mild rotelle, but we have friends who love the super hot sausage and rotelle :) I also like to use 1 1/2 pkgs of cream cheese to make it creamier :)

Ingredients:

1 pkg cream cheese (If you like really creamy, use 2 pkgs :)

1lb sausage

1 can rotelle tomotoes

Directions: Mix together in crockpot and serve when hot