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Recipe: Hot Italian Turkey Sausages with Peppers and Onions

Staying on my healthy course, tonight I made Italian turkey sausages with peppers and onions served over brown rice. I used hot sausages, but if you don't like spicy food, you can substitute mild or sweet Italian turkey sausage.

1 package of Italian turkey sausage (I used Publix brand, but if you don't shop there the Jennie-O brand of turkey products are excellent.)
2 peppers of you're liking (I used a green and a red because that is what I had) stem, seeds and insides removed, then sliced
1 small red onion, sliced
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
couple dashes of worcestershire sauce
olive or vegetable oil
salt and pepper
2 cups brown rice
2 cups water

Preheat an oven to 425 degrees.

Place the sausages in a non-stick skillet and add water, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Place on medium heat and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Simmer for 20 minutes. Drain the water, add a tablespoon or two of oil to the pan, return to the stove and continue to sear the sausages for a couple of minutes. Move the sausages to the edge of the pan and add the onion to the middle. Salt and pepper and allow to carmelize.

While the onion is cooking, place the sliced peppers on a cookie sheet and drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 8-10 minutes. (To me, roasting vegetables is the most delicious way to cook them. In this recipe it prevents the peppers from being overcooked and soggy.)

Once the peppers are finished roasting and onions have carmelized with the sausages, add a little balsamic vinegar to the pan. I eyeballed it, but about a 1/4 cup. Add a couple of dashes of the worcestershire sauce. These two elements add a lot of flavor. At the very end, add the peppers and toss lightly. Serve over brown rice.

I bought instant brown rice and followed the package directions. Brown rice is healthier than regular white rice. Make enough for four servings. That is 2 cups water, brought to a boil and salted. Add 2 cups of brown rice, stir, cover with a lid and turn the burner to low, simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir, cover and let sit for another 5 minutes or so until the rice has absorbed the water.

Serve with sausage, peppers and onions over the rice. I served two sausage links per person, with one leftover for lunch tomorrow.
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Sushi Dinner

I was a terrible housewife today and forgot to take anything out of the freezer for dinner tonight, so my husband had to take me out to dinner. I deserve to be taken out every once in awhile though. I don't like to defrost meat in the microwave. It just freaks me out. We decided to visit our favorite sushi place, Sushi Alive! This means I am going into day 6 with no meat consummed. I feel great and still not missing meat. However, I think tomorrow night I will break my no meat eating streak by making turkey sausage with peppers, onions and brown rice. Still healthy though.
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Recipe: Minestrone Soup

This soup is very hearty, even with not having any meat in it. It is full of beans, veggies and pasta. This is another recipe from Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book, and it's a keeper. I only made a couple of changes, for example, I added zucchini because I had some I needed to use up. Feel free to add or omit any vegetables you like. That is what cooking is all about, making a recipe your own.

Minestrone Soup
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, grated
2 carrots, shredded
4 celery stalks, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp dried marjoram, or oregano
salt and pepper
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can chick peas, drained
2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup dry white wine (I used a Pinot Grigio)
4 cups vegetable stock
2 cups water
1 bunch of Kale or chard, vein removed and leaves coarsely chopped (I omitted this)
1/2 lb. (1 cup) of elbow or other small shapped pasta
grated parmesan for topping (a decent parmesan, not out of the green can)
toast, preferably whole wheat or multi-grain

Heat a soup pot over medium heat with the olive oil. Add the chopped onion to the hot oil. Let cook for a couple of minutes. Add the garlic, carrots, celery, and bay leaf; season with red pepper flakes, marjoram, and salt and pepper and saute until vegetables are soften, 8-10 minutes.

Add the beans, and season with salt and pepper and the rosemary. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, or until the paste smells sweet. Stir in the wine, cook for 1 minute, then stir in the stock and water. Wilt the greens, if using, and bring the soup to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente 8-10 minutes. Adjust the seasonings. Serve bowlfuls of the soup topped with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Use bread or toast for mopping up your bowl. Serves 6.
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Changes to the Schedule

So, we didn't feel like having leftovers last night and I figured I should use the salmon that I bought. It isn't a good idea to wait a couple days to use the fish after you buy it. So, last night I prepared the salmon. I just pan-seared it for a couple of minutes on both sides and served it with a mixed greens salad topped with chickpeas, corn, cucumbers and sweet vinaigrette.

I gotta tell you, I haven't had meat in days, and I don't really miss it. I could totally be a pescatarian (a vegetarian that eats fish) and be happy as a clam - pun intended. Tonight, I made a delicious minestrone soup from Rachael Ray's new cookbook. I'll post the recipe in a separate post.
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On the Menu this Week...

My hubby and I have decided to eat healthier. I guess that is everyone's New Year's Resolution. Anyway, I have picked out some healthier dishes to make this week. I am loading up on vegetables, beans, brown rice and lean protein. No red meat, less carbs and less cheese. That last one is difficult because I love all types of cheeses. Below is this week's menu and tonight's recipe. It features a couple of vegetarian meals. I will try to post a recipe per day.

Tonight: Falafels with J. Alexander's orzo salad
Tomorrow (Monday): Leftovers
Tuesday: Pan-seared Salmon on a bed of mixed greens and vinaigrette
Wednesday: Minestrone Soup
Thursday: Hot Italian Turkey Sausage with Peppers and Brown Rice

Falafel Burgers with a Greek Yogurt Sauce
This recipe was inspired by a recipe in Rachael Ray's new cookbook, Big Orange Book (BOB). However, I have made a different sauce for it.

2 cans (15 ounce) of chick peas, drained and rinsed
1/2 a red onion, chopped
2 garlic gloves, grated
1 handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
3 Tbsp of all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
Salt and Pepper
1/4 cup veggie oil
whole-wheat pita bread
lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, banana peppers as toppings

Pat the chick peas dry with paper towels and place them in a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients, up to and including the salt and pepper. Process until all the ingredients are blended and smooth. The mixture will be thick. Divide into 4 equal parts and form into patties.

Preheat a large non-stick skillet with the veggie oil. Place the patties into the pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side.

Wrap the pita bread in foil and warm in a preheated oven or toaster oven. Cut the pita bread in half and gently open the pockets. Cut each falafel in half and place in the bread. Fill with toppings of choice and top with yogurt sauce.

Greek-yogurt Sauce
1 cup nonfat, plain Greek yogurt (You should be able to find this at the regular grocery store. I found mine at Publix by the rest of the yogurt.)
1 clove of garlic, grated
small section (maybe 3-4 inches) of a seedless cucumber, peeled and grated
Greek Seasoning (or salt and pepper, dried oregano)

Place all the ingredients in a bowl, stir until well blended.
*Note- cucumbers are filled with water. After you grate the cucumber make sure to squeeze out the excess water.
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Recipe: My Tapenade

Tapenade is a spread that consists mainly of olives. I like to add sundried tomatoes and feta cheese, among other things. Tapenade is great just as a snack by spreading it on crackers or toast. But it is also good on sandwiches like paninis or burgers. It is pretty hard to mess up tapenade. I don't really measure anything, just throw it all in the food processer. Most grocery stores now have those olive bars and I just fill a small container with kalamata and green olives. This is a great dish to have as an opening act while guests are arriving for a party.

Olive and Sundried Tomato Tapenade
a combination of kalamata and giant green olives, roughly chopped
sundried tomatoes in oil - about 8, roughly chopped
capers - 1 Tbsp.
feta cheese (about a 1/4 cup)
juice of half a lemon
1-2 garlic cloves
handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley
crackers or toast

Place all the ingredients in the food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pour a little bit of the sundried tomato oil in as well. Blend until the ingredients turn into a smooth, spread. Add more oil if needed. Spread on crackers and enjoy!
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Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Year's Eve! I did. And I wish everyone a Happy New Year. 2009 is already shaping up to be a pretty great year for me. I hope it continues.
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