Enjoy Each Bite

Last night, I made a dinner that was slightly random that turned out great. I had some left over Italian sausage, some zucchini from my garden  and a desire to use them. I was getting my olive oil out to start cooking the sausage and zucchini together on the stove and I saw a box of Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing Mix that I purchased around Thanksgiving time. I thought, "Hmmm, it's not Thanksgiving, but that sounds good." and so I made it and we ate it with our fried zucchini and sausage. It was great. The only thing I would change next time is less garlic salt on the zucchini, since the sausage and stuffing have plenty of salt going on already. 

As I was searching recipes for potato salad, I found lots of ideas of yummy ingredients to include. I ended up combining a bunch of recipes and made a delicious and loaded potato salad with lots of great flavors. Here's what's in Loaded Potato Salad: 6-8 potatoes, diced bite size (I used yellow potatoes and left the skins on) 1 cup mayonnaise (I use olive oil MAYO) 2-3 T Dijon mustard 1/4 cup white onion, diced small 2 stalks celery, cut thin 1/4 cup bacon bits 4-5 boiled eggs, sliced 2 T Sweet Pickle Relish Seasonings to taste (salt, garlic salt, pepper, Natures Seasoning blend) Boil diced potatoes for about 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and allow to cool slightly before adding other ingredients. In a large bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and stir well. Cool in refrigerator before serving.

I love chili. I even love the canned kind, like Dennisons or Stagg brands. But, my husband reacts poorly to the greasy canned chili, so I like to make my own sometimes for Taco Salad (as our family calls it) or to eat with corn bread or any bread. I like no-spice chili. I am not a spicy type. :) This time, I soaked and cooked my dried pinto beans. It's so easy, but takes some preparing ahead for the meal. I used about 3 cups of dried beans (They grow a LOT after being soaked) Soak the beans overnight, drain, rinse and then cover with water and cook in the crock pot on high for 4-6 hours until they are tender. Drain and return beans to crock pot. Then add these ingredients to make the beans into chili: 1 lb cooked ground beef (I like 93/7, very lean) 4 Tb Chili Powder 1 Tb Basil 2 Tb minced Garlic 1/2-1 white onion, diced 2 cans diced stewed tomatoes (I like the garlic and onion seasoned ones) 1 small can of Tomato Sauce Salt and Pepper to taste Cook on High in the cro

I asked my husband what one of his favorite Christmas time treats is and he surprised me when he said peanut brittle. I don't recall ever having peanut brittle and I never thought of it as being that awesome of a treat. Christmas came and went and my intentions on making some peanut brittle for him never turned into action. So, New Years Eve, I decided it was my turn to try out candy making with my new candy thermometer and all. I followed this recipe and tried to do everything with precision. It turned out good and he likes it so that's all that matters. :) PEANUT BRITTLE Ingredients 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup water 1 cup peanuts (I used dry roasted) 2 tablespoons butter, softened (I used Smart Balance) 1 teaspoon baking soda Directions Grease a large cookie sheet. Set aside. In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Set c