Winter Foods

Blog post #462 of 365

In the winter it is generally cooler and cooler weather means cooking smells. Most meals I cook are done in 30 minutes or less. I cook tons of fresh veggies and a little meat because it is best for the diabetic in this house. But the smells of cooking don't live here often. I live in California where winter is elusive and so I take advantage of the few winter days and make soup or stew or bake something.

This past weekend I made an apple crisp and soup.

The ones I made this week are both quick, easy and yummy.

Smoked Sausage Soup

Cut smoked sausage in half lengthwise and cut again into slices about 1/2 - 3/4 inch

Brown sausage in a skillet until brown and fully cooked.

While the sausage cooks add the following in a large pot but keep an eye on youe sausage and remove from heat once it is ready.

2 quarts stock (homemade or store bought I keep some on hand in the freezer or pantry or both)

1 cup rough chopped onion (again I keep some in the freezer)

1 cup chopped carrots

2 cups chopped potatoes

1 teaspoon garlic powder (or minced fresh garlic)

1 teaspoon celery seed

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning (sounds weird but it isn't)

3 tablespoons ground flax seed (also sounds weird but it is a healthy thickener and completely optional)

Heat to a boil, cover and simmer until potatoes and carrots are cooked (a fork will slide through without much effort).

Now add sliced smoked sausage and simmer for about 15 minutes. Done. (I use only half of the sausage because I'm not a big meat eater.)

Apple Crisp

Heat your oven to 375

Prepare an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish by buttering the bottom or use cooking spray if you prefer

In a bowl mix

3/4 cup brown sugar packed

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup soft butter (I like the flavor better but you can use margarine if that is what you have)

3/4 teaspoons each of nutmeg & cinnamon

Now cut and core 4 - 5 medium Granny Smith apples (bite sized but not tiny) and place the apples into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the sugar oat mixture as evenly as you can over the apples. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown on the top and apples are tender (Do the fork thing again.) Enjoy just like that or top with ice cream.