Cattywampus

Yumminess

I know quite a few people out there have the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day book, so I just have to share this.

On saturday we went to an italian place for lunch and I was mourning the loss of these fantastic garlic knots that we used to get at a little red & white checked tablecloth kind of place in Greensboro.  So there I was, complaining about not being able to get them and it occurred to me that OMG I could MAKE garlic knots!!  

Thank goodness for google, eh?   I googled a few recipes, wound up with one I was happy with, ignored the making the bread dough part and just used the dough I had ready to go in the fridge and voila!

Garlic knots!

OMG people, SO.  Freaking.  Good.

They were a little big for a side for two people, I will try to make them smaller next time, and my knots weren't perfect - but hey, put enough garlic and butter on them and who's criticizing your knots???  That's right...nobody.  

Do it.  You know you want to.  They're amazingly yummy!

A tip:  Stand anxiously over the oven while you are baking them, I baked these 18 minutes and that was a bit too long, make them smaller and I would say 10-12 minutes to get that ooey-gooeyness-smooshy inside that you want in something like this.

Thanksgiving for two

I love Thanksgiving food, and while we had a lovely Thanksgiving meal with DH's relatives, it's just not the same without the leftovers.  So Sunday I made Thanksgiving for two, it was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it.

The menu:
Turkey & Gravy (a combo of Martha Stewart & Alton Brown's recipes)
Sausage Cornbread Stuffing (my own, see below)
Spiced Cranberry Sauce (nix the fresh ginger & sub a small amount of dried)
Dirty Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole (bake 1 sweet potato per person in the oven for 1.5 hours with the turkey, mash with bourbon, maple syrup, cinnamon & clove, season to taste)
Cheddar Corn Spoon Bread

And *shamefacedly* Mrs. Smith's pecan pie.  It was okay...I totally should have just gone the extra mile & made my favorite Pecan Pie recipe.

Sausage Cornbread Stuffing
1/2 pound Mild sausage
1 Onion chopped
2 stalk Celery chopped
2 teaspoon Fresh thyme
1/3 cup Fresh parsley chopped
1 Granny smith apple diced fine
2 tablespoon Unsalted butter
1 quart Chicken broth or more

Over medium heat, brown sausage. Drain on paper towels. In same pan, melt butter and cook onion, celery, and apple until onion is translucent and apple is soft. Add butter as needed. Season with salt & pepper.

Add sausage to pan and mix together. Can be done ahead and refrigerated or frozen.

In large bowl, pour cornbread stuffing, mix in sausage mixture and add fresh herbs. Pour chicken stock over top until moistened. Season with salt & pepper and a touch of cayenne.

Sausage, Mushroom & Red Wine Ziti - an unvention

To use an Elizabeth Zimmerman phrase, this is an unvention, there is no way that this is the first time this was made, but I made it up yesterday and it was delish, and fairly easy, so I'm going to share it.

Sausage, Mushroom & Red Wine Ziti

1 lb hot italian sausage
8 oz baby bella mushrooms
1 cup red wine
2 jars good store bought marinara sauce
olive oil
butter
1 package mixed italian cheeses
1 box ziti or rigatoni cooked to 2 minutes under box directions.

Brown sausage in large pan in 1 tablespoon olive oil, remove sausage & drain.  Melt 2-3 tablespoons butter in the pan, add mushrooms & cook until soft & browned.  Add wine to deglaze pan, simmer for about 5 minutes, or until reduced. 

Add sausage & sauce, simmer for about 30 minutes to let the flavors go all the way through the sauce.  Add 1/2 package of cheese to sauce.  Stir in cooked pasta, pour into 9x13 baking dish & top with remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes, until it's bubbly & top is browned.

Chipotle stuffed cornish hen

Two pieces Smokey Chili Cornbread

Two cornish game hens

1 shallot

1 T fresh chopped sage

salt & pepper

chili powder

butter

chicken stock

Saute diced shallot in olive oil, add in sage when shallot is soft.  Mix in crumbled cornbread, add stock until moistened to stuffing consistency, season with salt & pepper.

Smear hens with butter, sprinkle with salt, pepper & chili powder - stuff.  Cook at 350 for one hour covered, uncover & cook for 15 minutes more - or until skin is browned & hens are done.

YUM! 

Sunday Sauce - Mushroom & Sausage

Mushroom & Sausage Sunday Sauce

1 pound Hot italian sausage removed from casing & crumbled
1 large Onion diced
6 cloves Garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper
2 26 oz cans crushed tomatoes
2 cans (6 oz) Tomato paste
1 cup Fresh basil chopped

2 tablespoons dried parsley or ½ cup fresh
16 ounces Baby bella mushrooms sliced

1 cup grated parmesan
1 tablespoon Sugar

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large pan, brown sausage. Remove sausage and drain all but 4 tablespoons oil.

Add garlic and onion, saute until onion is translucent. Add 4 tablespoons butter, stir in mushrooms. Saute until mushrooms are brown & reduced.

Add sausage back in, tomato paste, 2 cans of water & bring to a boil, add salt & pepper, parsley, oregano, 1/2 of basil, & red pepper flakes.  Add in crushed tomatoes & 1 can of water.  Bring to a boil.  Lower heat & simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  Right before serving, add in sugar, the rest of the basil &  the grated parm.

Serve over pasta with more grated parm.

Valentinr

This is silly, but fun - so Happy Valentine's Day!
Get your own valentinr

Easy Cheesy Chili Dip

It's nearing superbowl time, so here's a yummy and incredibly easy addition to the necessity of WAY TOO MUCH snack food on superbowl Sunday.

Easy Cheesy Chili Dip

2 cans chili with beans

2 cans Rotel with green chilis

2 4oz cans chopped green chilis

1 giant log of Velveeta

tabasco sauce to taste

tortilla chips for serving

Chop cheese log into pieces & place in 3qt slow cooker, pour rest of ingredients on top, turn it on high until the cheese melts and the dip is mixed together, then low or warm to keep it liquid. 

If you're in a hurry, microwave all ingredients for a few minutes before putting in slow cooker.