One Pan Smoked Sausage and Veggies

Since my kids have shown an interest in cooking, I have decided to capitalize on the moment and cross my fingers that it lasts.  My son just turned 13 this month and when he asks to cook it is usually to make a dessert of some sort.  When I finally convinced him to try a meal instead of a dessert, he first went for the recipes with the most obscure ingredients and the most steps possible.  It took a minute, but when he approached me with this recipe, I was all about it.  He made me a list of the ingredients that he needed, I added them to my shopping list, and we were set.

The recipe took a bit of time for my son to make, simply because of the careful chopping of the vegetables that he did.  I asked that he take his time with the knife, and he did.  If you are a bit speedier with the chopping, this recipe is a pretty quick one to throw together.  And the one pan clean up is fabulous.  (Disclaimer: I also had him mix the veggies in a large bowl instead of on the pan, which made for two things to clean, but was a bit easier to assure an even coating of the oil and seasonings.)

The whole family loved this meal, and I was thrilled to not have to cook!  (Sorry for less than thorough photographs...)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups quartered small potatoes
• 1 pound green beans
• 1 large head of broccoli (~ 1 and 1/2 cups)
• 2 large colored bell peppers (chopped)
• 1 lb smoked sausage
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Serve with: fresh parsley, quinoa/rice, lots of freshly grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a large sheet pan with foil or parchment paper.
3. Prep the veggies: chop the potatoes (pretty small pieces here so they will be tender in time), trim and halve the green beans, chop the broccoli, chop the peppers into thick squares, and coin the sausage in thick slices.
4. Place all the veggies and sausage on a sheet pan. Pour the olive oil and all the spices on top. Toss to evenly coat all the veggies and meat. (We did this in a bowl - despite the extra dish to wash, we felt it was easier.)
5. Bake 15 minutes, remove from the oven and flip/stir all the veggies around. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender and sausage is browned.
6. If desired, sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the veggies and sausage as soon as they come out of the oven.
7. Enjoy with rice or quinoa and fresh parsley if desired.

Difficulty: easy - as long as chopping veggies isn't an issue

Time: 15 min prep, 30 minutes baking

Source: slightly adapted from https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/

Zucchini Ribbon Pasta

In my CSA recently, I received parsley, basil, zucchini, yellow squash, and garlic, among other goodies.  I was interested in trying a new zucchini recipe and I came across this one, that happened to use many of the items I had on hand.  Everyone in my family loved it!  It took a little time for me to make the zucchini and squash ribbons - I used a peeler - but if you have a tool for that, I am sure it would be quick and easy.  If you want to make this vegetarian, it would only require switching the chicken stock for vegetable broth.  If you want to add protein, I think shredded chicken would be a good choice.


INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 pound whole-wheat fettuccini
• yellow and green zucchini (about 2 lb total)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup grated (1-ounce) Parmesan (lightly packed), plus 2 tablespoons
• 1/3 cup finely minced parsley leaves, plus more for garnish
• 1 cup thinly sliced basil leaves, plus more for garnish
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• Salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large pasta pot, cook pasta "al dente", 1 or 2 minutes less than the package instructions call for. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, slice off ends of zucchini and discard. Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Using a mandoline, or vegetable peeler, slice zucchini into very thin (about 1/8-inch) slices, trying to keep some skin on each piece for color. Stack slices and cut in half lengthwise. Reserve zucchini ribbons in a large bowl.
3. In the pasta pot, heat the olive oil over low-medium heat. Add garlic and cook until soft and translucent but not browned, about 1 minute. Add zucchini ribbons and 1/4 cup chicken broth, raise heat to medium-high and cook until zucchini is still somewhat firm but just cooked, about 3 minutes. 
4. Return pasta to pot and add remaining chicken stock; cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until liquid has mostly absorbed into the pasta. Add 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, parsley, basil, red pepper flakes, black pepper and toss to combine. Season with salt, to taste. Serve garnished with additional parsley, basil and the remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese.

Time: About 30 minutes, total

Difficulty: Depends on how hard it is for you to make the zucchini ribbons. That was the only possible challenge

Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/zucchini-ribbon-pasta-recipe-1940043#/