Tag Archives: food

Sausage, Feta, and Kale Frittata

December 29, 2014
Shannon
1 comment
eggs, food, kale, peppers, turkey sausage

I know the holidays aren’t technically over but food-wise, for me they are. After being pretty good at home before heading to my sister’s in Texas before Christmas, I had one good day where I stayed on track, keeping away from the cookies and watching my carbs. But then, poof! The next day was all downhill. Cookie after cookie went into my mouth and I couldn’t stop for days. And then I spent the entire flight home eating ALL of the chocolate that was in my stocking because I wouldn’t let myself eat it when I got home. So now I am home and watching everything that I eat. This Sausage, Feta, and Kale Frittata will be a good start to my mornings this week while I get myself back on track.

Leafy kale, crisp red pepper, spicy turkey sausage and tangy feta cheese make up this frittata which is so easy and quick to prepare. Frittatas are such a great option for breakfast because they take no time to make, are easy to portion out, and are quick to reheat when you are on the go. This frittata has some of my favorite veggies but spinach, onion, asparagus, broccoli and any favorite cheese could be substituted. I’m happy to have this for breakfast each morning. Although eating those cookies for breakfast was pretty fun too.

Preheat broiler to high. Combine egg whites, eggs, salt, pepper, and milk; stir with a whisk.

Heat a 9-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Sauté kale in olive oil until tender. Layer in sausage and bell pepper.

Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese.

Carefully pour egg mixture over cheese.

Cook over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes or until eggs are partially set; then broil 5 inches from heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until browned and almost set.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Cooking Light magazine

Chicken Bites with Tomato Mint Salsa

December 8, 2014
Shannon
1 comment
chicken, chipotle, food, peppers, tomatoes

I was in Atlanta last week for work and every time I travel, I look forward to getting home and cooking. I know several people who just don’t understand that but it’s something that puts me at ease. Also, after eating restaurant food for five days, I just want to eat something that I cooked. Anyone else like that? So, of course, I decided to make chicken. You know, something (not so) new and different. Boring chicken these Chicken Bites with Tomato Mint Salsa aren’t. I’m wowed.

Tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño are broiled in the oven giving them a deep rich, sweetness and then whirled together with chipotles in adobo sauce, cumin and fresh mint and cilantro. The chicken is seasoned with cilantro and cumin giving it a warm, comforting flavor that mixes so well with the bold salsa. This salsa though…my gosh. Even if you don’t want to make the chicken, make this salsa. It’s bold, it’s vivid, and it’s alive. It makes the salsa from my hotel happy hour last week look like sad, pathetic, lame, boring nothingness.

Preheat broiler with a rack set about 4 in. from heat. Set tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning as needed, until blackened, 15 to 25 minutes; as done, transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Peel, stem, and seed chile. In a food processor, pulse vegetables (including blackened parts from tomatoes and onion) and their juices until chopped. Add remaining salsa ingredients and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.

Cut chicken into 1- to 1 1/2-in. chunks. In a bowl, combine 2 tbsp. oil, the cumin, salt, chopped cilantro, and chicken.

Heat a 12-in. frying pan (not nonstick) over high heat. Add remaining 1 tbsp. oil; swirl to coat. Cook chicken, stirring and turning once, until lightly browned but still moist, 5 minutes.

Stir cilantro leaves into chicken; transfer with a slotted spoon to a platter. Serve with salsa and skewers.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Sunset magazine

Cheesy Sausage Balls

November 24, 2014
Shannon
2 comments
appetizer, cheese, food, quinoa, turkey sausage

I’m pretty slow to the sausage ball party. I first became aware of these little bites from Trisha Yearwood’s show on Food Network and thought that they would be a perfect little nugget for me considering how much I love sausage (turkey sausage, that is). But since then, I suddenly see sausage balls everywhere – on Pinterest, on the Today show, on my Instagram feed. Well, I figured it was high time for me to jump on the bandwagon and I was especially thrilled when I came across this recipe for Cheesy Sausage Balls which has a little different twist than your standard sausage balls.

Sausage, cheese, and quinoa make up the base of these bites which are perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer. Instead of baking mix, these balls have cooked quinoa which is so much healthier than some floury mix. Granted, baking mixes are super simple and easier to throw into a bowl than cooking up a batch of quinoa but it only takes fifteen minutes for quinoa to cook so you can do it ahead of time and still have some leftover for another dish later. Plus, quinoa is so much better for you! The quinoa actually adds a bit of texture to these sausage balls, a bit of a pop, if you will. I haven’t tried the sausage balls made with baking mix but I don’t think I need to. I’m perfectly happy with these little guys and I bet you will be too!