Spicy Lentil and Sausage Soup

This is a quick recipe to make. Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your taste.
 
2 Italian hot sausage links (I used Italian style hot turkey sausage)
1 T. Olive oil
1 large clove of garlic, minced
About 1/4 of a small onion, diced
1 19-oz can Progresso Lentil Soup
3 baby carrot’s, diced
1 Small tomato, diced, seeded
1 cup chicken broth
Red pepper flakes
Thyme, Basil, Oregano, Parsley; Salt and Pepper to taste
 
 
In a pan, cook the sausage until brown, breaking up into pieces. 
 
In a large pot, add the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onions. 
 
Add the lentil soup, sausage, and remaining ingredients. 
 
Adjust seasoning as necessary. 
 
Cook on low heat for 15 minutes.
 
Serve with grated parmesan cheese. 
 
Serves 4.

(November 2004)

Crispy Brazilian Sausage with Yucca served with Herb Butter on top

I made the following recipe for a rotation dinner, in which the food theme was Brazilian foods. 

Crispy Brazilian Sausage with Yucca served with Herb Butter on top

1 1/2 lbs. sausage
2 small sliced white onions
2 medium yuccas

2 T melted butter

1 T thyme
1 T parsley
1 T oregano

Heat a large pan and cut the sausages into slices 1 inch or thinner.

Place the sausage in the pan and add 3 ounces of water, cover it, and leave on high heat until the water runs dry. The idea is to cook the sausage in its own fat. Meanwhile, stir to prevent the sausage from burning. Add the onions and stir until the onions are caramelized and browned.

In a separate pan, slice and fry the yucca.

While everything is cooking, mix thyme, parsley, and oregano into melted butter.

Plate the sausage and yucca and drizzle the herb butter on top.

Recipe Source: http://www.vogue.com/13464599/2016-olympics-brazilian-recipes-chefs-snacks/

Sausage Stuffing

I make this every year for Thanksgiving.
Monica J. Pileggi 1998

5 Italian sausage links (sweet and hot), removed from casings and crumbled
1.5 bags (about 21 oz) of seasoned bread cubes
4 Celery stalks, diced
2 C. mushrooms, sliced
1 large onion, diced
1/4 c. dry white wine
Thyme
Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 stick butter
2 cans chicken broth
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, cook sausage until just done. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. In the same skillet (removing most of the sausage fat but enough to coat the vegetable) sauté the celery, mushroom and onions along with wine, thyme, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook until the onions and celery are translucent. Set aside.

In a large pot, add the butter and broth and heat. Add the bread cubes and combine with the liquid. Add the sausage, vegetables and Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. If it’s too dry add more broth.

Add the sausage stuffing to two 9" x 13" baking pans.

Bake for 35-45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serves 12 to 14.

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

This is a recipe I found on a blog site called Simply Recipes. I made this for brunch (Dec 08) for the rotation dinner group I belong to. It was very good and it went fast! I added the 1/2 cup of mushrooms, but 1 cup would have been better.


1 lb of Italian pork sausage, (then cooked, drained, crumbled) I used a combination of sweet and
hot Italian sausage
4 1/2 cups cubed day old bread
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
10 eggs slightly beaten
4 cups whole milk
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp onion powder
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
1/2 cup peeled, chopped tomatoes (optional)

1 Heat a skillet on medium high. Break up the sausage into chunks and cook, working in batches if need be, until browned all around. Make sure the chunks of sausage have some space around them or your meat will steam and not brown. Remove the cooked sausage from the pan and let sit on some paper towels on a plate to soak up the excess fat. Crumble into smaller pieces.

2 Place bread in a well-buttered 9x13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with cheese. Combine the eggs, milk, dry mustard, onion powder and pepper. Pour evenly over the bread and cheese. Sprinkle sausage and optional ingredients over the top.

3 At this stage you can cover and chill overnight, if you want to prepare ahead. If not, let sit for 10 minutes before putting in the oven. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake uncovered for about one hour. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly.

Serves 6-8.