Jen’s Breakfast Sausage Gravy

Jen Says: We like the Jimmy Dean brand of sausage and prefer Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits.  If the gravy ends up too thick, add more milk.

Jen Goode blogs about creativity in every direction at 100Directions.com.  She wrote more about her Breakfast Sausage Gravy there!

Jen's Breakfast Sausage Gravy
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. maple sausage
  • 5 c. milk
  • 1 tbsp beef bouillon
  • 1 tsp seasoned pepper
  • Dash of garlic herb seasoning
  • Flour
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, brown the sausage. Drain the grease. Put it in a food processor & chop to fine pieces. Set aside.
  2. Add 4 c. of milk to the skillet, stirring in the beef bouillon, seasoned pepper, and garlic herb seasoning. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Stir in sausage, add the remaining milk, & simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix 1 c. of warm water with 1 tbsp of flour. Stir until well mixed. Continue to add flour, 1 tbsp at a time, until the consistency of the mixture is that of a thick cake batter. Pour the flour/water mixture into the skillet & stir thoroughly until the gravy begins to thicken.
  4. Remove from the heat & pour generously over freshly baked biscuits. Serve.

 

Fig & Olive Tapenade

Fig & Olive Tapenade
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 c. dried figs, chopped
  • ½ c. water
  • ⅔ c. Kalamata olives, chopped
  • ⅓ c. toasted walnuts, chopped
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Combine figs & water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil & cook until tender, and liquid has reduced.
  2. Remove from heat & stir in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme, & cayenne.
  3. Add olives & garlic, & mix well. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
  4. Cover & refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to blend.
  5. Unwrap cream cheese block & place on a serving platter. Spoon tapenade over cheese, & sprinkle with walnuts. Serve with slices of French bread or crackers.

Photo Courtesy of Meal Makeover Moms on Flickr

Michelle’s Classic Salsa

Michelle Says: Use real apple cider vinegar – the flavored stuff is not the same.  Make sure to have plenty of tortilla chips on hand, as the salsa is even better fresh than canned!  Wear rubber gloves when handling the peppers.

Michelle's Classic Salsa
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Condiment
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 12 c. tomatoes
  • 6 c. onions
  • 2-10 jalapeno peppers (to taste)
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 2 c. green bell peppers
  • 3 tbsp non-iodized salt
  • ¼ c. sugar
  • 1 c. apple cider vinegar
Instructions
  1. Chop each ingredient with a food processor, being careful not to chop too finely or chop by hand. Mix all ingredients together.
  2. Test for degree of "hotness" by adding chopped jalapenos one at a time.
  3. Pack in hot, clean canning jars; seal & water bathe can for 25 minutes for pints & 30 minutes for quarts.

Photo Courtesy of Cowgirl Jules on Flickr

 

Basic Tomato Sauce

Submitted by Ruth
Serves 2

Ingredients

5 truss tomatoes, skinned, diced, & crushed 2 tbsp tomato paste
large handful of oregano large handful marjoram
small handful parsley small handful basil
small package pine nuts ½ c. button mushrooms, diced
1 medium onion, quartered salt
pepper 1 c. vegetable stock or broth

Directions

  1. Slit the skins on the tomatoes & put them in boiling water for a minute to get the skins off.  Once skinned, put them in the blender to crush them.  Add tomato paste to thicken it.  Set aside.
  2. In a food processor, pulse the onion, herbs, & pine nuts until neatly smooth.
  3. In a nonstick pan, cook the mushrooms & onion/herb mixture with a bit of vegetable stock until translucent, then add the tomatoes.  Cook for about 1 hour on a very low simmer until reduced by about ¼.

Chef’s Note: When serving I add a chicken breast with all fat removed, thinly sliced & dry grilled, & some heart healthy bacon dry grilled.

Maker’s Mark Grilled Chicken Marinade

Submitted by Maker’s Mark Distillery
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 oz. soy sauce ½ c. brown sugar
½ tsp garlic powder 1 tsp powdered ginger
2 tbsp dried minced onion ½ c. Maker’s Mark bourbon

Directions

  1. Mix all the marinade ingredients and pour over chicken pieces in a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible before “zipping.” 
  2. Let stand (turning often) for several hours (best overnight.) Grill away!