tried & true | sausage corn chowder

hen I think about a home-cooked meal, this is the first recipe that pops into my mind. This is my all-time favorite recipe from childhood. It was passed down throughout my mom's side of the family. I still ask for it every time I go home, and I'm a full-grown adult.

It is that good, and to make it better it's incredibly easy to make! It is perfect for when you don't have a lot of time to make dinner.

Enjoy!

S A U S A G E  C O R N  C H O W D E R

I N G R E D I E N T S

1 lb. ground italian sausage
1 c. chopped onion
4 c. diced potatoes
2 c. water
2 beef boullion cubes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 can (14.75 oz) creamed corn
1 cup frozen corn
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk

D I R E C T I O N S

Cook sausage and onions.
Drain grease from pan.
Boil potatoes in seasonings for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Do not drain water!
Add sausage and onions and stir.
Add corn and evaporated milk last.
Simmer on low to heat all ingredients.
Do not bring to a boil because it will develop a film.
Enjoy!

recipe | a winter frittata

We woke up to a fresh blanket of snow on the ground, and I thought it appropriate to make a recipe I dog-earred from the cookbook, One Pan, Two Plates by Carla Snyder. She has the recipe posted here on her website. I adapted it a bit to work with what I had on hand in my fridge and pantry. It's a super easy recipe, and you can really add whatever veggies/meats you'd like or have on hand!

WINTER FRITATA

adapted from One Pan, Two plates

I N G R E D I E N T S


6 large eggs

2 tbsp milk

salt & freshly ground pepper

pinch of nutmeg

5 slices of bacon

1 small onion, thinly sliced

2 large russet potatoes, diced very small

2 handfuls of fresh spinach

1 garlic clove

1/2 c crumbled feta cheese

D I R E C T I O N S


Heat broiler with rack in second position to the top.

In bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper, and nutmeg.

In oven-proof pan (such as a cast iron skillet), cook the bacon. Transfer to a paper towel to drain. Do not drain bacon fat from pan. When bacon is cooled crumble into small pieces.

Add the onions and potatoes to the hot bacon fat and cook until potatoes are tender (about 5 minutes). Add the spinach, and cook until wilted. Add garlic and a bit more salt and pepper.

Spread the filling evenly along bottom. Sprinkle bacon crumbles and feta cheese on top, and then pour egg mixture over the filling. Reduce heat to low, and cover pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes. Then uncover pan and carefully move it to oven. Broil the frittata until lightly browned and firm.

Remove from oven and let cook for about 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and enjoy!

recipe | bavarian pretzels and bierkäse

I N G R E D I E N T S
package active dry yeast
1/8 c warm water
1 1/3 c warm water
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp brown sugar
4 1/2 c all purpose flour
baking soda
course sea salt

D I R E C T I O N S
1 | Dissolve yeast in 1/8 c warm water and brown sugar. Stir 1 1/3 c warm water; add salt & flour.

2 | Knead dough until smooth and elastic. Dough does not need to rise.

3 | Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

4 | In saucepan, measure 2 tbsp baking soda to each cup water, filling pan until water is at least 3 inches high. Bring to boil. Make sure baking soda is dissolved.

5 | Cut dough into 6 pieces and roll into long pencil-shaped pieces. Form into pretzel shape.

6 | Place pretzels one at a time into baking soda water for 10-15 seconds. Remove from water. Let rise for about 10 minutes.

7 | Using a knife, slit the fattest part of the pretzel, lengthwise. Salt the top of the pretzels with course sea salt.

8 | Line cookie sheet with parchment paper (I highly recommend this as the pan is very hard to clean without it), and bake pretzels in oven for 18-19 minutes or until brown.

9 | Enjoy warm with beer cheese!

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enjoy the pretzel recipe! our beer cheese was not perfect, so i am not going to list the recipe because i know there have got to be better ones out there. next time i would definitely make more of a sauce, but the pretzels turned out beautifully! do any of you know of a good beer cheese recipe to accompany them?