Hurry-Up Sausage Dinner
This is a great dinner for nights when you just don’t feel like FOOLING with it. It’s probably not the “healthiest” in terms of fat, but you can do some things to alleviate the fat problem if you need to!
FIRST, scrub as many potatoes as you will eat, add three or four large ones to that total, prick them with a fork, and toss them in the microwave. We usually cook ten. (Two each for Ken and I, one each for the children, plus leftovers. Save the leftover potatoes to fry for breakfast in the morning.
Then open a can or two of vegetables and set them on the stove (you won’t want to turn them on yet, or if you do, just put them on low). If you don’t feel like a canned veggie, lettuce from your garden (or one of those bagged, pre-made salads) compliments this meal well.
Then, toss the following in a deep pot:
- 1 package Neese’s Hot Sausage (note: We use Neese’s brand exclusively because their Hot, Sage, and Plain varieties are gluten, casein and MSG free… very rare in the World of Sausage… and it’s some of the BEST sausage on the market!! We pay about $2.50 for it at Save-a-Lot. If Neese’s isn’t available in your area, I’m sure it’ll work with other brands… but if you can get it, use it - it’s worth it!
- 1 chopped up onion
- 1/2 chopped up pepper (hurry-up hint - chop onion & pepper in advance and freeze them. If you’re really time-strapped you can buy them in the frozen foods section!
- Garlic, cumin, and other spices to taste
Fry it all up. It’ll be a little greasy. Drain off any excess. If you have medical problems with fat, you can rinse the cooked meat and add the spices afterwards. Otherwise, “once in a while” probably won’t hurt you!
If you haven’t already, turn the vegetables on!
Then mix a few tablespoons of cornstarch with some cold water, and then pour it over the sausage mixture. Add more water until you have enough in the pot to make “gravy” for all that you’re feeding. You can add a bit of milk (or soy/rice milk) to it for flavor if you like - we usually don’t. Cook it on medium unti it thickens, then taste. You might need to add a bit of salt or pepper.
By now, the potatoes should be cooked. Take them out of the microwave, split in half, add a pat of butter, and spoon some of the sausage-gravy over the top. Veggie goes on the side. Voila! Dinner is served, for less than five dollars and less than five minutes of sustained effort!
