Lasagna Soup

I don't know about where you live...but the weather here is so totally up and down! Chilly, jacket wearing weather followed up by searing humidity.
Huh?
I don't know how to dress, I certainly don't know what to cook!
One night it's comfort food for chilly winds, the next night we don't even want to turn the oven on because it's sticky and humid.

I am such a fall/winter person that I am LOVING when we get the chilly weather.
So into stews, chowders, casseroles...all the comfort foods that the fall bring.

What is your favorite comfort food?



Ingredients:

2 Tsp Olive oil

1 ½ Lbs Italian sausage (bulk)

2 Onions (diced)

4 Garlic cloves (minced)

2 Tsp Oregano

½ Tsp Red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp Tomato paste

1 (28 oz) Can diced tomatoes

6 Cups Chicken broth

2 Bay Leaves

8 oz Rotini pasta

½ Cup Basil (finely chopped)

8 oz Ricotta

½ Cup Parmesan (grated)

½ Tsp Salt

Pepper (to taste)

2 Cups Mozzarella (shredded)

Directions:

1. In large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat

2. Add sausage and saute, breaking into small pieces

3. Cook until sausage is no longer pink

4. Drain any excess fat

5. Add onions and saute until softened

6. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes

7. Add tomato paste and saute until it turns a rusty brown

8. Add diced tomato (undrained), chicken broth, and bay leaves

9. Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes

10. Add pasta, increase heat to boil, and cook as long as directed on pasta package

11. Discard bay leaves, add basil

12. Add salt and pepper to taste

13. To each bowl add some ricotta and parmesan

14. Ladle the soup into the bowl

15. Top with mozzarella

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Yup, left out my basil. Whoops!

Ricotta and Parmesan in the bowl

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Escarole and Bean Soup

A friend of mine shared this recipe with me.
The same friend I discussed trying to starve here.

Thankfully she is wise and forgiving.
(Thankfully for me that is! We have been friends for so long, I can't imagine not having her a text message away!)

Anyhoo...
I finally got around to making this soup and it was DELISH! We all had it for dinner, and then the girl child and I made two more meals each out of it.

I have to admit, the escarole part sort of threw me for a loop.
Salad type product? In soup?
It made it though...it simply needed it!

I sent her a text to let her know I made it (which means she is also eagerly awaiting to see it posted here!). We talked about it for a bit...and then she drops the magic words "I think my mom got this recipe from Wegman's".
:::sigh::: Ahhh...Wegman's.
My grocery oasis.
Love me some Wegman's...as does my friend.
See, this soup was just meant for us!

Ingredients:

1.5 Lbs mild Italian sausage patty

3 Tbsp vegetable oil

8 oz chopped onion

3 Cloves garlic (minced)

14 oz escarole blend

Salt

Pepper

44 oz chicken stock

15.5 oz cannelini beans (drained)

1 Cup ditalini pasta

¼ Cup finely chopped parsley

2 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Cut each sausage patty into 8 pieces, shape into balls

2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large pan

3. Add sausage balls and cook, turning to brown all sides

4. Remove sausage from pan and set aside (discard drippings)

5. Return pan to heat and add remaining 2 tbsp oil

6. Add onions to pan

7. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until onions are translucent

8. Add garlic and cook until soft

9. Add escarole, stirring occasionally until wilted

10. Season to taste with salt and pepper

11. Stir in stock, beans, and browned sausage

12. Add pasta and simmer 10 minutes

13. Add parsley and lemon juice

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Sausage Dip

Wow...what a long, strange trip it has been!

I knew I was going to take a bloggy break over the holidays, but I was glad I left room for an extra week of break.

It started when my aunt had to put her fur baby down. Gizmo was almost 10 and had congestive heart failure. She was more than slightly miserable. Her coughs sounded like a hammer. They tried medicines, they did everything they could...but, the inevitable came to be.
She is all sorts of missing her "baby". Her hubby, my uncle, is retired, and didn't realize how much he would talk to the dog all day!
Religious or not, I love the idea of the rainbow bridge.

My parents came up to visit for abut 10 days.
We went north towards the beach and let my father have his fill of seafood.
2 lobsters, fried clams, shrimp, scallops, and haddock. He had no shame getting his fill!
I miss my parents so much, and it was beyond words to get to spend so much time with them.
We introduced them to our fave game, Scattergories. My father says he will be running out to get his own version as soon as he gets home.

During our trip, which included us 3, my parents, and the same aunt and uncle that just lost their doggie...

We found out that my uncle's brother in law passed away.

It was not a surprise, but that does not make it any easier.

I knew before we left for the beach that he was in his final moments, and on our way up, we got the call that he had passed.
Hubby and I went to the wake, it's a huge family, and it was such a mixed blessing. Hugs and happiness for those still with us, but sad (and happy!) memories of those who have gone past.

During the same trip, a family friend called and revealed that her cancer has returned and that she has made some decisions revolving around her care.
Such a hard topic to discuss.

We got home, and my mother in law called to let us know that hubby's uncle has passed on. Once again, it's not a surprise, but, it's the hole that will be left in the family.


Mr Fuzzy Face didn't fare so well with us gone. It was just different for him this time I guess. With my parents here, he was off kilter having new people around, and then we left for days.
My neighbor, whom Fluffernutter LOVES came to check on him every day...multiple times. He just needed his people though. He was shedding like crazy when we came back. The other night he even climbed up on my chest for scritches like he used to as a kitten.
Today...well...today was a little more "vomity" than I would like to know about.
He just needs to know we are home and not leaving him.
Breaks my kitty cat loving heart though!

The girl child started her next semester of school.
Hubby is still healing from back surgery.
We are SO short staffed at work and I am working crazy hours.
Had a long talk with a friend who had a cancerous tumor removed from her esophagus. (not her first bout with cancer)
Hubby's truck is still in the shop.

It's a lot as of late. So much.

Opened my mail...and there is a random "thinking of you" card from my friend who has NO idea that all this just happened.
I love her for just reaching out for no reason.

Thanks for allowing me to have a break, and thanks for listening to me rant!

Ingredients:

2 (16 oz each) rolls of bulk sausage

2 (8 oz each) packages of cream cheese (softened)

28 oz Picante sauce

Directions:

1. Brown the sausage, crumbling as it cooks

2. Drain sausage

3. Mix sausage, cream cheese, and picante sauce

4. Warm in crock pot on low, stirring occasionally

Print

Adapted from: Brown Eyed Baker

Come party with me HERE!

Sausage Soup

One of the girls I work with gave me this recipe, which came from her sister in law.
I have some handwritten recipe, with parts of it faded and cut off from the copy machine.
But that is OK, I got the gist.

When she mentions sausage, she doesn't specify loose or links. I chose to use links, cooked and then sliced.
She also just says 2 large cans of chicken broth, so I guesstimated and used 32 ounces.

The end result is incredibly flavorful!

Ingredients:
1 Lb hot sausage
1 Lb sweet sausage
1 Can diced tomato
1 Large onion
1 (10 oz) frozen spinach
Hot pepper flakes
2 Large cans chicken broth
Small bag tortellini

Directions:
1. Cook sausage.
2. Add everything together and cook through

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Ingredients

Finished and ready to chow down!

This recipe was shared with:

Monday: Flour me with Love, This Gal Cooks, Feeding Big, Pioneer Momma, A Bright and Beautiful Life, New Mama Diaries, The Chicken Chick, Jam Hands, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, A Southern Fairy Tale, Craft O Maniac, Stringtown Home, Uncommon Designs
Tuesday:  Pint Sized Baker, Yesterfood, Cornerstone Confessions, A Peek into my Paradise, Table for Seven, Chef in Training, Mandy's Recipe Box, Kathe with an E, Inside Bru Crew Life, My Joy Filled Life, Sweet Silly Sara, Boogieboard Cottage
Wednesday: Crafty Allie, The Tasty Fork, White Lights on Wednesday, Buns in my Oven, Gingersnap Crafts, Gooseberry Patch, Lady Behind the Curtain, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Recipes for our Daily Bread, From Gate to Plate, Mom's Test Kitchen, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen
Thursday: Lambert's Lately, Kiddie Foodies, What's Cooking Love, Sweet Haute, Sweet Bella Roos, Saving 4 Six, Miss Helen's Country Cottage, Embracing Change, The Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: The Grits Blog, Craft Dictator, Endlessly Inspired, Love Bakes Good Cakes, A Peek Into my Paradise, Hungry Harps, Daily Dish, The Better Baker, 30 Handmade Days
Saturday:  Angel's Homestead , Made From Pinterest, Will Cook for Smiles, Mommy on Demand, Six Sister's Stuff, Cheerios and Latte, Weary Chef, Sewlicious Home Decor, Raising Memories, Northeast Bloggers
Sunday: A Peek into my Paradise, Denise Designed

Man Log

During one of my many recipe searches online, I found this.
I think I read it three times before I realized it wasn't a joke!

I actually made this as a main dish, served with some mashed potato on the side.
Hubby and the girl went NUTS! (it is pretty delish!)

Hubby told me I needed to make this for a future party. Then he corrected himself and decided I was never to introduce this to our friends. He wants it to be his private secret to enjoy.

Selfish man! BUT...luckily he did not tell me that I needed to keep it off the blog!

When making the lattice, the tighter the better. I also built mine on a sheet of wax paper to make the rolling aspect easier.

See my notes in red below:

Ingredients:

1 Lb of bacon

1 roll of sausage I used Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage

Cheese of your choice I used about a cup of cheddar

Directions:

1. Breakup and brown sausage

2. Build bacon lattice (weave like a basket, approx 7 strips long by 7 strips wide)

3. Place filling in blanket, but do not overfill

4. Add cheese

5. Tightly roll the bacon around the mixture Folded the ends in before I rolled the outside

6. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes
I used a baking rack over a baking sheet so the heat would circulate and the grease drip down. By the end of the 25 minutes, I did not find it crispy enough all around. I flipped it (carefully) and cooked for another 20.

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Breakfast or Dinner? BOTH!

My bacon lattice. Pretty proud!

This might be the 8th deadly sin

This recipe was shared on: Flour me with Love, Call Me PMC, Six Sisters Stuff, This Ole Mom, The Craftiest Allie, The Chicken Chick, Uncommon Designs, Jam Hands, Inside Bru Crew Life, Chef in Training, Mandy's Recipe Box, O Taste and See, Kathe with an E,  Mommy on Demand, Anyonita's Nibbles, Pint Sized Baker, Table for Seven, Livin the Mom Life, and Pioneer Momma

Breakfast Casserole

We are not a breakfast family.
Scratch that, we love love love breakfast for dinner!
As a general rule, we don't have a meal until lunch though.

I had a good friend and her (gorgeous, sweet, smart) daughter come here for a visit last summer. We did a bunch of touristy things, you know how it goes.
One morning, on our way to pick them up, we were stopping for coffee. Sent a text asking if they wanted anything...a bagel for each.
They get in the car and devoured said bagels. She mentioned something about not being able to wait as long as they did yesterday.
Whoops! Leave it to us to starve our friends!
Yes, I am that kind of person. Apparently.

My friend and I are still on speaking terms, thankfully, and she tells me she reads my blog faithfully. Wonder if she will remember and laugh about my torture methods.

While making sense of my box of random recipes, I found this one. It is hand written by me, so I assume I had made it at some point in my life...but just to be on the safe side, I made it again to ensure it is as yummy as it sounds.

My daughter had friends spending the night. Just because we don't eat first meal (as a general rule, and rules are made to be broken) doesn't mean they should go hungry.

Made this the day before, as stated, and cooked it up in the am.

In my handwritten instructions, it just says sausage. It does not specify Italian or breakfast. I used bulk sweet sausage instead of cutting up links, but I think it would be just as good either way.


Ingredients:
1 Lb sausage
1 (8oz) package shredded cheddar cheese
½ pint half and half
6 Eggs
6 Slices of bread
Butter

Directions:
1. Cut edges off bread. Butter bread and place in 9x13 dish.
2. Brown sausage, drain, cut into small pieces and put over bread.
3. Sprinkle cheese over sausage
4. Mix eggs and ½ and ½ together. Pour into dish.
5. Refrigerate overnight
6. Preheat oven to 350. Cook for 45 minutes.

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Ingredients

It was a hit! The girl and her friends went back for seconds.

Janice's American Chop Suey

My friend Janice...everything she makes is normal, everyday food...but with a twist!
We make a lot of the same meals, but hers are just so different from mine.

I have started picking her brain to get her versions, I am always game to try something new!

She gave me this recipe and I ran home to make it. We are big American chop suey fans in my house.
This meal did not disappoint!

It still had all the comfort food feeling of my own....but with a lighter feel.

The sausage was a nice addition, it gave spice to this that just blossomed. She told me that she uses the hot sausage...but I was going to use sweet. I got to the grocery store and the cheese and garlic flavor was on super sale, so that is what I grabbed.

I should give her credit, the creamy habanero chicken soup came from her (well, apparently her sister).

Ingredients:
1 Lb box elbow macaroni
1-1 ½ Lbs ground beef
8 Italian sausage links (hot or sweet)
1 Green pepper (chopped)
1 Onion (chopped)
2 Cans of stewed tomato
Optional:
Tomato juice
Pasta sauce

Directions:
1. Cook pasta as directed
2. Cook hamburger with onions and peppers
3. Cook sausage, slice on an angle
4. Mix everything together with stewed tomato
5. If you would like thicker sauce, add marinara sauce
Thinner sauce, add tomato juice.

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Ingredients

Optional Ingredients

Stir and enjoy!

Italian Sausage Soup

I go to work very early every morning so that I am home when the girl child gets home from school. It give us some alone time every day to just chit chat.

She walked in when I was making this and asked what I was making.
My evening went a little like this:

Me: It's an Italian sausage soup, my friend Rebecca gave me the recipe and I have been dying to try it.
Girl: Well, it sounds...um....interesting.
Me: If you think about it, with the exception of the carrots, it's everything that can be found in a pasta dish.
Girl: OK mom. I'm gonna get a snack.

Fast forward to an hour into simmering....

Girl: That smells soooo good Mom!
Me: Even though it was only "interesting" earlier?
Girl: :::sigh::: Mom, I meant INTERESTING like, I can't wait to eat it!

Even if she was a little "ugh" in the beginning, she ate it all up!

Ingredients:
1 Lb Italian sausage (casings removed)
1 Large onion (chopped)
1 Med carrot (chopped)
1 Stalk celery (chopped)
8 Cups chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) Can of diced tomato
1 (8 oz) Can tomato sauce
1 Clove garlic (minced)
1 Tsp oregano
½ Tsp rosemary
½ Tsp basil
¼ Tsp thyme
1 Bay leaf
½-1 Cup orzo pasta

Directions:
1. In large pot cook sausage, onion, carrot, and celery over medium heat until the sausage is no longer pink. Drain.
2. Add chicken broth, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic, and spices.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 1 hour.
4. Add orzo and return to boil.
5. Reduce heat and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
6. Serve with parmesan cheese.

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Ingredients: I got sausage patties instead of pulling from the casing

Dinner...and then lunch for the next two days!