Creamy Spinach & Sausage Pasta

I just LOVE one dish meals!  They are typically quick to make, they get less dishes dirty, and it helps me get dinner on the table fast when we've had a busy day.  This recipe was quite amazing and my whole family devoured it.  Even the left overs were quite delicious. Thanks again Pinterest for another keeper recipe!

Creamy Spinach & Sausage Pasta

Source: Budget Bytes

6 oz. smoked sausage
1 T. olive oil
1 medium onion 
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
2 c. chicken broth 
8 oz. pasta 
3 c. fresh spinach 
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded monterrey jack 
1 whole green onion 

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the smoked sausage and add it to a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Saute the sausage over medium heat until it is nicely browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off the excess fat.
2. Dice the onion and add it to the skillet. Continue to saute until the onion has softened (about 5 minutes). Add the can of diced tomatoes with chiles and the chicken broth. Stir to combine and dissolve any browned bits off of the bottom of the skillet.
3. Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet and make sure it is all submerged under the liquid. Place a lid on the skillet and allow the mixture to come up to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for about ten minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Stir once or twice while the pasta cooks to keep it from sticking.
4. Stir in the fresh spinach, one cup at a time, until wilted. If you add it all at once, the skillet will be too full to stir. Keep the heat on while adding the spinach, so the liquid will continue to simmer and thicken.
5. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top, replace the lid, and let it sit for a few minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Slice the green onions and sprinkle them over top. Serve hot!

Skillet Chili Mac

I have a confession to make.  I haven't cooked dinner over the past THREE MONTHS!!! Don't worry, my kids have not been starving.  We were just blessed to have our in-laws visit us for 3 months.  Did I mention my in-laws used to run their own Chinese restaurant?  Did I mention my father-in-law makes the best Chinese food ever?  It was so nice coming home from work and having a home cooked meal on the table every night.  It takes a lot of time to plan meals every week and I welcomed the break with open arms.  It almost felt like I was on vacation.

Well, all good things come to an end, and yesterday I had to cook dinner for my family.  My in-laws visit is over and it's back to our normal routine now.

We've had unseasonably cool weather lately so this recipe was perfect and a reminder that Fall will be here sooner than I would like.

Skillet Chili Mac
Source: Deep South Dish

1/2 T. oil
1-1/2 c.  chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped bell pepper
1 or 2 jalapeños, chopped (I left these out.)
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. raw breakfast sausage
1 T. minced garlic
2-1/2 T. chili powder, or to taste
1/2 t. cumin
1/4 t. dried oregano
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can of tomato sauce
1 (7 ounce) can green chilies
2 c. of water
1 (15.5 ounce) can pinto or red kidney beans,drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups of dry medium cut pasta (like elbow macaroni or shells)
1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese, divided, or to taste, plus more for garnish
Optional Garnishes: Sliced green onions,fresh diced tomatoes, sour cream or your other favorite chili toppings

Heat the oil in a large lidded skillet over medium high heat; add the onion and peppers, and cook for about 4 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. To that, add the ground beef, sausage and garlic, breaking up the meat and cooking, until no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt and pepper; taste and adjust seasonings.

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and green chilies; stir. Add the water, beans, pasta and half of the cheese. Bring to a boil, stir, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes or until pasta is cooked through; uncover, stir and let simmer, uncovered, until reduced to desired consistency. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, cover and cook over low until cheese melts. Garnish with sliced green onions, fresh diced tomatoes, sour cream or your other favorite chili toppings. 

Sausage & Tortellini Soup

Pinterest seems to be my favorite spot to find new recipes these days.  It's such a great tool to use to find  all kinds of great ideas and recipes.  Tonight I made this sausage and tortellini soup for dinner and the kids and I devoured it.  Not the healthiest of soups but it was so darn good and super easy to make. My 2 1/2 year old even asked for seconds and that rarely happens with her!

Even this guy loved it!!!



Sausage & Tortellini Soup
Source: Party In My Kitchen

3 cups cooked Italian sausage
3 cups uncooked cheese tortellini
4 cups water
1 can evaporated milk
6 chicken boullion cubes
1 tbsp. oregano
1 tbsp. parsley
1 tbsp. chives (optional)
salt & pepper to taste
parmesan cheese

Put all ingredients except tortellini in medium size sauce pan and bring to boil.  Allow to simmer about 15 minutes.  Add tortellini and allow to boil according to pasta pkg. instructions.  Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve.

Sausage, Potatoes, & Green Beans

EASIEST. MEAL. EVER!

This is my go-to meal on busy weekdays.  Simply throw some canned green beans (mine were from my parents' garden), diced up potatoes (no need for peeling), and some sliced smoked sausage or polska keilbasa into your crock pot, add a couple cups of water and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  No need for extra seasoning because the sausage gives the green beans and potatoes tons of flavor. Even my kids love this one!

 

Sausage Stuffed Won Tons

Look at these cute little wontons! My sister introduced these to me this summer. You use a mini muffin tin to make them so they are perfect little two-bite appetizers. Or you can serve them as your main entrée. They look scrumptious and taste even better!

Red Beans & Rice

My family loves rice and beans! Whether it's from a Mexican restaurant, part of a Cuban recipe, or as a side dish at Popeye's! I needed a quick meal to throw together and I've had this recipe on my radar for months. It was perfect. A complete meal in one dish and super easy to throw together.

This was my first time using Zatarains Creole Seasoning. I love the stuff but please notice that the first item on the ingredient list is salt. I didn't realize that when I went a little "shaker happy" while cooking. It turned out a little more salty than I would have liked but next time I'll just remember to not put as much seasoning on it. Great meal overall!

Crockpot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

I've been in the mood for okra lately. A friend of ours from the Ivory Coast makes this amazing African okra dish. She made it for us several times when we used to live by them in Indiana. Now that we are in Michigan, I miss her amazing cooking. (I should have gotten her recipe and watched her make it before we moved! :) So I searched the internet for okra recipes and found this.

While it was nothing like the African dish, it was still very good. My preschooler was not a fan of it and informed me that it was "big people's food" but my husband and I both really liked it! I will definitely make it again.