Thursday, March 4, 2010

Italian Sausage Soup



I came up with this yummy (and inexpensive) recipe last night. There is only 1/2 lb. of sausage which is enough to give it great flavor, but not so much that it breaks your budget. We paired the soup with a Tomato and Mozzarella Salad (sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil) and homemade bread to make a great meal!





Italian Sausage Soup

1/2 lb. Mild Italian Sausage links
1 T. Olive oil
2 cups Beef broth
4 cups Water
1 can (15 oz.) Black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can (14 oz.) Diced tomatoes (with juices)
1 cup Frozen chopped spinach
4 leaves Fresh basil, diced

Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. Cut sausage links into bite size pieces and brown in pan until cooked. Add beef broth and water and bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and then let simmer for 30 minutes.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Making Bread









As the reality of moving to Nicaragua creeps closer everyday, I have begun to think about what I need to do to prepare. I figured I would start by making bread - the real way that is. I have made bread many times in a bread machine, but won't have that advantage in Nicaragua. So, I headed to the grocery store and picked up some yeast. It's nice to know that all the other ingredients are tucked away in my pantry and should be easily accessible in Nica (our abbreviation for Nicaragua!). My first attempt was yesterday, and, well lets say, not worthy of pictures. While it did have a fresh-from-the-oven taste and aroma, the appearance was less than perfect. So I decided to put a little more love into it today (a.k.a. I kneaded it a bit longer). I stuck to the recipe and didn't deviate so I could assure a good loaf. And it worked! We have a fresh, piping hot loaf of white bread. To top it off I smeared on some butter and homemade apple butter (thanks Mom and Dad!). It was warm, had a dense texture, and salty but not to sweet flavor. My first goal accomplished. Wonder what's next?