Italian Sausage done right

I grew up in a time when there was no McDonald's, Burger King or such. There was fast food- White Castle with their baby burgers and a million hot dog stands.Places that were, for the most part independent and not concerned with product labeling.  This was the reality of life in the inner Chicago suburbs of the 1960's Most meals were eaten at home, but sometimes snacks were bought, and it was in the form of Sliders , Vienna Beef Hot Dogs or Italian Ice. Fast Food just was not thought of as a meal option- something to think about in light of today's obesity problem. It is not calories ingested, but the amount of chemically altered foodstuffs in the name of brand recognition that is the root cause of today s obesity and other health problems in my opinion. A hot dog or sausage sandwich was something you got as an afternoon snack or late night munchy, and not a meal. Meals were eaten at home, cooked by mom or grandma. There were a lot more shakes and fries consumed,as snacks, and obesity was not a big issue. Plain and simple.

I am getting off my point here ! There were more hot dog stands than anything else, and as a child I was fed many a hot dog sandwich as a snack, while mom and dad ate Italian Sausage or Italian beef because it was assumed that sausage was too spicy for my childish pallet. So not true !! I longed for the day that I would be allowed to have Italian sausage, and it happened one fine day at my great uncle's 4th of July Picnic when I was 8. I happened to be standing near the grill, looking hungry, and he offered me a small section on Italian bread. It was good, but not as good as I had presumed them to be.

Through the years I have used and consumed Italian Sausage grilled, in "spaghetti sauce", roasted, on pizza, and it has always struck me as tasty , but nothing to write home about.  I sensed that there had to be a better way to serve it, and the other day I discovered a method that is probably the most flavorful way I have found to date. It comes from the Naples region of Italy- an area who's cuisine is a bit denser and "meatier" than that of places slightly south such as Amalfi or Capri.

Salsiccia napoletana stile italiano e Patate
(Neapolitan Style Italian Sausage and Potatoes)

2 lbs italian sausage, cut into links
6 large red potatoes with skins on, sliced about 1/4 inch thick
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Salt, pepper and about 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Extra virgin olive oil (about 1/4 cup)
1 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Slice potatoes and place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil (about 1/4 cup). Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic powder and grated cheese. Mix (preferably with hands) to coat potatoes  with above ingredients. Preheat oven to about 350 degrees. Spray a roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. Spread potatoes on bottom of roasting pan. Layer sausage links on top of potatoes. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours (depending on your oven). Check after 1-1-2 hours. Remove foil and turn sausages to brown on other side. Brown for about 10 minutes.

Spinach Sunday

Sunday turned into a very restful day - a nice thing after the shop and chop. I was able to catch up on some of my studies and hear some very enjoyable music. Great ways to refresh the inner me !

The guys left very early for two singing commitments and decided they would grab breakfast on the road between them. It was more of a lure to help Nick adjust to the idea of singing two services than a nessesity, so it left me to fly solo. I grabbed a serving of the coconut salad, topped it with pumpkin seeds . I added a cup of coffee and I was ready to go !

After a morning of singing and studying, the guys came back for lunch. The first of the spinach meals of the day- Popeye would be proud !

Lentil sweet potato salad
(originally found at Kath eats real food)

1/2 cup green lentils -- rinsed
2 small or 1 large sweet potato
1/4 cup walnuts
5 dates
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp maple syrup
1 Pinches kosher salt + ground pepper
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Baby Spinach to serve

Cook lentils in a pot until tender using a 4:1 water to lentils ratio.
Bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cook for about 30 minutes on low.
Meanwhile, dice sweet potato, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with
cinnamon, salt and pepper, and bake cubes at 400* for about 30 minutes.
Chop dates and toast walnuts in the microwave (1 minute on high) or in a
dry skillet.When lentils and potato are done, toss everything together
and serve over chopped baby spinach.

We have all learned that spinach is good for you, but did you know the real reason this is so ? It's not the iron, but the flavinoid compounds that help to protect against so many diseases. Spinach helps to protect against stomach, prostate and ovarian cancer, supports cardiovascular and bone health, improves mental function, eyesight and more. It is low in calories, high in flavor and just plain does your body good. That is my excuse for inadvertently planing two spinach meals in one day ! ( and doing this is proof that lately I need all the spinach I can get !)

Italian Sausage Soup (crock pot)

1 lb Sausage -- cut into pieces
4 cups hot chicken broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 clove garlic -- minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup whole wheat mini pasta shells
1 box frozen chopped spinach
Grated Parmesan cheese

Combine broth,tomato paste, garlic and red pepper flakes in 4 1/2-quart
CROCK-POT® slow cooker.Add sausage slices. Cover -- cook on LOW 5 to 6
hours. Thirty minutes before serving add pasta and spinach
Ladle into bowls -- sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

This one may be the best crock pot recipe I have ! It is the kind that I would plan to use even if I did not need to use the crock pot for convenience. When we must be out or run a late afternoon errand I plan a crock pot meal - and a good one- because if you know that dinner is waiting all ready for you at home , you will not fall into fast food temptation.That can save money AND your health in the long run.

It's going to be a very interesting week here. One of the eight festivals of my spiritual path happens this weekend, and there is a kind of tension in the air that is making me antsy. I don't think it is any different than for those who walk a Christian path as they approach Christmas. The excitement, the preparation, and the general spiritual awareness that something big is about to happen makes for a tense but happy time. Same is true for me now, but that tension is coming from the very earth itself. I just have to remember to breath and remind myself that my observations may not be based in the reality of the situation. My family means me no harm....my family means me no harm....