Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Sausage and Apples

So it's a new year and I am trying to revive my (and the Husband's) diet and eat more healthfully!  Isn't that everyone's resolution - to work out and eat better?  I feel like it is my goal every year. 

I actually do pretty well in the Spring, Summer and Fall.  But when the cold weather comes, all I want to do is eat mac and cheese, or a bowl of chowder and then have a cup of cocoa and enjoy a few homemade sweets.  Of course this would all take place in front of a fire while the snow was gently falling outside!

Since I wouldn't fit into any of my pants if I ate like that everyday, I am trying to find and/or create recipes that are hearty but aren't too rich and fatty.  Are you with me?  First up is a recipe that includes some brussel sprouts (my favorite!) and some sausage.  To save some fat and calories, I used chicken sausage.  But you should use whatever makes you happy!

Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Sausage and Apples
Inspired by 101 Cookbooks

Ingredients:
4-5 links chicken sausage
10 oz brussel sprouts, shredded or cut into slivers
1 apple, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
1/4 C white wine
1 tsp maple syrup
squeeze of lemon
salt and pepper

Instructions:

Remove sausage from casings.  Add sausage to a large skillet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Cook sausage over medium to medium-hi heat until browned.  Add apples for a few minutes after the sausage has browned.   Remove sausage and apples from skillet.  Add wine (or chicken stock) to pan to deglaze, using your spoon or spatula to remove all of the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet.  Add more wine or stock if necessary.

After the wine come to a boil, keep heat to medium-hi and add shredded brussel sprouts and season with salt and pepper.  Let the sprouts brown and cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring once or twice.  Then add back the sausage and combine with the sprouts.  Take skillet off heat and add maple syrup and squeeze a little lemon juice over the sausage/ sprout combination.  Stir a few times and serve immediately!

Updated:  I'm linking up at these parties!



Bacon 'n Brussel Sprouts

Q: How do you get the Husband to eat brussel sprouts?

A: Add bacon!

So that is just what I did!  I got the idea from my friends on Facebook when I put out a call for ideas for a green veggie for Thanksgiving.  Someone suggested brussel sprouts . . . with bacon.  I knew that was a winner because every time I ask the Husband if he likes a dish he says "you should add bacon" or "it needs bacon".

I couldn't find any recipe that I loved.  Everything was too fancy and contained too many ingredients.  I just wanted sweet and simple.  So I simply cooked the bacon, added the sprouts, and served it.  It came out yummy and they were all gone by the day after Thanksgiving!

Bacon 'n Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients:
3 - 3.5 lbs brussel sprouts, halved and trimmed
1 lb bacon, preferably thick cut
1-3 T olive oil
salt and pepper

 

Directions

• Cook bacon in a large skillet until browned to your liking.  With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked bacon from the skillet to a paper towel lined plate.  Leave the bacon fat in the skillet and add more oil to the skillet if necessary (AFC note: you want to be able to lightly coat all of the sprouts.  I only had to add a little bit of oil because I had a bunch of bacon fat).  

• Add the brussel sprouts to the skillet, stirring so they get coated with the oil.  Keep the heat on med-hi and let the sprouts cook and brown, giving it a stir to make sure they are cooking evenly.  Cook until tender and browned to your liking.

Devour!!

P.S. I'm linking up to the blog hops at Mess for Less and Punkin Head and Dooda Loo's

Manic Monday

Hi there!  Long time no see.

The Toddler, the Husband and I traveled to Pennsylvania last week to attend the Husband's brother's wedding last Saturday.  Both the Toddler and the Husband were in it and we had a lot of fun.  Lots of time spent with family, lots of dancing, and lots of good food.  In fact, we found out that the Toddler is a party girl.  She was on the dance floor all night until the DJ played a slide show, and then she did this:

We got home late yesterday afternoon and had to play catch up with everything around the house.  You know - laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.  I am still trying to catch up - hence "Manic Monday" as the title of the post.  But I hadn't cooked since Wednesday and I really wanted to do that.  And I wanted a "fall meal" since the weather is cooler.  On the fly I came up with: grilled turkey kielbasa, pierogies and roasted brussel sprouts.

For the kielbasa, I just threw it on the grill for about 15 minutes or so.  For the pierogies, I bought a box of frozen mini pierogies and cooked them up in a skillet with some butter and onions.  YUM.  I could eat an entire box of these.

I could have also eaten the entire pan of brussel sprouts (which the Husband would be thankful for).  For those, I take frozen brussel sprouts and put them in a baking dish and drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle on some salt and pepper.  Put in a 400 F oven for about 20-30 minutes depending on how brown you like them.

Even the Toddler likes 'em!

What's your favorite fall meal?