Sausage and Bean Ragout

Finally, I'm posting a recipe that isn't a dessert or bread! Feels nice to cook real food again. :) A coworker gave me some fresh basil which inspired an internet search for a dinner recipe. This was delicious, and super easy. I altered it a bit to use what I had... I put the changes in parentheses. (From Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (I skipped this)
• 1 pound ground beef (I used ground turkey)
• 1 pound hot Italian pork sausage, casing removed (used Jimmy Dean ground Italian sausage)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 1/2 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth (regular, Natural Goodness™ or Certified Organic)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes seasoned with garlic, oregano and basil (I just had plain... still really good)
• 1 (16 ounce) can white kidney beans (cannellini), rinsed and drained (I used 2 cans)
• 1/2 cup uncooked elbow pasta (I used penne because that's what I had)
• 1 (6 ounce) package fresh baby spinach leaves, washed
• 1/3 cup grated Romano cheese

Directions

1. Heat oil in saucepot over medium-high heat. Add beef, sausage and onion and cook until meats are browned, stirring to separate meat. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
2. Add broth, basil, tomatoes and beans. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add pasta and cook until pasta is done.
3. Add spinach and cook just until spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Serve with additional cheese.

Zucchini Muffins

Make these. Do your neighbor a favor and take some zucchini off their hands. You'll be glad you did.

Zucchini Muffins

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

a couple dashes of nutmeg

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

3 eggs

1 cup sugar*

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed*

1 cup vegetable oil*

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups zucchini, grated

1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)

*Note – I made the less sugar, less fat recipe and they were great!

Preheat oven to 325° F. Grease and flour 2 large loaf pans (or 8 mini loaf pans or 24 muffin tins). Set aside.

Stir flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder together in a bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, sugars, vegetable oil and vanilla.

Stir in flour mixture. Blend in zucchini and nuts, if desired.

Pour into prepared pans and bake for 60 minutes for large loaves, about 20-25 minutes for small loaves or 15-20 minutes for muffins. Bread is done when centers are set and bread is slightly brown.*

Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the pans. Turn bread out of pans and cool completely before wrapping in tin foil or placing in an airtight container.

*Less sugar, less fat recipe: Decrease white and brown sugars to 3/4 cup each. Substitute half of the oil for applesauce or non-fat vanilla yogurt.

*High altitude recipe (above 4000 feet): Add a 1/4 cup sour cream to the batter before baking and mix well. Decrease total sugar by about 1/3 cup. Decrease baking times by about 5 minutes.

White Chocolate Chip Craisin Cookies

How have I not posted these before??? I make them regularly because they are always a hit. I think it's the brown sugar that really does the trick. Anyhow, I'm making them again this eve for a friend who feels inclined to eat them while running 100 miles this weekend. Crazy, crazy kid! Thought I'd share the love (in word at least) with everyone. :)

3 cups flour
1 tsp soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter (but sometimes I use salted and it's fine)
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbls vanilla
1 cup craisins
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, chopped (optional, and I usually don't include them)
(I've also added shredded coconut before, which was delicious.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the flour misture to the cream mixture. Stir until almost incorporated. Add the Craisins, white chocolate chips, and pecans. Mix until everything is just together.

Roll into heaping spoonfuls and bake for about 8 to 12 minutes (really the time varies... just watch them and take them out when they suit your fancy... you're all capable people). Eat and be happy!