Not too much new in the kitchen this month but as we cleared out our fridge and freezer, useing leftovers and partial frozen bags of veggies so there is minimal waste.
Roasted corn from Trader Joe's store.
We tried it as a side dish and I have to say, it wasn't remarkable. Perhaps I added a bit too much water in the cooking method. This was served with the stovetop chicken thighs.
I gave the corn another try adding it in a pot of soup. It was a good addition there. Leftover roasted potatoes and carrots, sliced onions rounded this out. Thickened with a bit of flour and broth and you have a hearty lunch for a cool day.
Cider jelly was a new thing. This was a gift from a friend and I ate it on a toasted English muffin. Interesting taste, not like cider as I'd of thought.
A sausage and rice casserole made a great lunch for a few days. When I was cleaning out my folder of loose recipes I came across this oldie. It's a photocopy from a newspaper so no telling how many years I've had this one.
Sausage Rice Casserole
1 lb. hot bulk sausage (I used mild)
3/4 cup regular rice
2 envelopes Lipton chicken noodle soup mix
4 1/2 cups boiling water
1 large onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 cup celery, diced
Parsely flakes
paprika
slivered almonds - optional
Brown and scramble sausage, drain well. To boiling water add rice, return to a bil and add the soup mixes. Boil exactly 7 minutes.
Mix sausage, soup-rice mix and diced vegetables in a greased covered casserole.
Top with almonds if you are using them, parsely and paprika.
Bake in a 350 F oven for 1 hour.
Note: When I was cooking the sausage I added the onions and pepper in so they could soften and cook together. I did not use celery (Doug is not a fan) or the slivered almonds. Also, I used mild instead of hot sausage.
Sharing with Sherry at Sherry's Pickings for her In My Kitchen event.
Marg at The Intrepid Reader for Weekend Cooking
I've used Trader Joe's Roasted Corn for soups, but I always stir-fry it with some oil or butter before adding it to the soup. I think it needs to sizzle rather than boil in water like regular frozen corn. The sausage/rice casserole sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteLes, thanks for the tip on the corn. It was good in soup and I have some left for casseroles.
DeleteIt sounds like an easy and good lunch. I have also used TJ's roasted corn but only in soups and chili. As Les says, I think it needs to be fried rather than boiled.
ReplyDeleteLiz, that casserole is a great lunch, not overly heavy yet filling.
DeleteVicki, the cider jelly was a first for me too. I thought chorizo was sausage?!
ReplyDeleteThat cider jelly really caught me eye!
ReplyDeleteJeff, it was the first tme I'd try it. Good!
Deletethanks so much for being part of IMK this month. I dread to think what i have lurking in the back of my freezer. i know i have lots of different veg! who knows what else? So is cider jelly like an apple flavoured jelly? Thanks for using my IMK logo too. much appreciated.
ReplyDeletecheers
sherry
Sherry, I meant to hook up last month but things got away from me. Yes, the cider jelly is like apple. It's mild.
DeleteLook at all your yummy meals last week. We make a special effort to use up what's in our fridge each week.
ReplyDeleteI'd say our best meal last week was Bacon-Wrapped Chicken, a recipe I got from a blogging friend, JoAnn at Gulfside Musing in the last post from January.
Deb, I like bacon wrapped chicken with a dollop of peach jam on it. The jam carmelizes as it bakes.
DeleteFrozen corn (roasted or not) is a favorite ingredient for soup or Mexican food like omelets or chili in my kitchen, but I don't think of it as a stand-alone side dish. I had some great wine jelly once, from a winery some place -- so I think I would also like cider jelly.
ReplyDeletebe safe... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae, this frozen corn will be used as an add in instead of a stand alone from now on.
DeleteI have so many ripped-out recipes it's hard to keep track of where they came from OR how old they are. That roasted corn sounds good so it's interesting it wasn't great on it's own. I have got to clean out the freezer and might have the chance to get that done during this recent polar vortex (or whatever it is). Be safe and well!!!
ReplyDeleteDebra, the storms have been so severe ths year, I hoope you don't lose electricty! My folder of copied recipes has grown over time and it needs periodic weeding.
DeleteThe sausage rice casserole sounds really delicious and now that I use Beyond Meat Sausage I can join in with these recipes too. - thanks
ReplyDeleteJudee, yes, this would definitely work with TVP or the Beyond Meat. I may change some ingredients out next time.
DeleteThere was a question on the radio this week - what hasn't been cleaned in 5 months? Answer was fridge. I'm not that guilty but close.
ReplyDeleteHad to do the disgusting vegetable bin this week (lazy, only did the one with the moldy cucumber, but the whole drawer had to be washed and lined with clean paper towels.
Think I might do the other drawer today.
Jackie, our veg bin is the same. I am more likley to find limp vegetables in there than anything in the upper part to toss.
DeleteI love sausage and rice together! I am going to have to add this to our current menu folder. There is one thing I miss about living where we do, no Trader Joes...Have a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteMelynda, we had the Reader Joe store move in a few years back. Prior to that I'd never been in one. They have great produce.
DeleteCider jelly looks interesting!
ReplyDeleteWe aim to try to not throw too much away but some weeks we are more successful than others.
Marg, I hate to admit the number of things I have found languishng in the back of the frige, but yeah, we do try.
DeleteLike you I don't have much IMK either - still its good fund to join in. I was talking about Trader Joe's to another blogger recently, a store that i am sure will make its way to UK at some point in the future. The Cider Jelly looks good, i'd use it on mock meat for veggie roast dinners.
ReplyDeleteShaheen, I like to link up to see what everyone else has going on. Our kitchen is rarely bustling with new otems! Great idea to use the jelly on a roast.
DeleteYour soup looks delicious and I am all for that cider jelly! Thanks for sharing with Souper Sundays this week. It's nice to have you back here! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb. I had takken a blogging break for a bit and slowly getting back to a routine.
DeleteCider jelly - how fascinating, I'm not sure I've ever seen that before!
ReplyDeleteIt was my first time with it as well. Pretty good!
DeleteI have also been using items from my freezer lately, trying to make it a more regular habit. Your soup looks so inviting :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Simona. If I can stretch out leftobvers I certinaly try.
Delete