Sausage and Veggie Hash

This is my go-to meal when I have a bunch of veggies I had every intention of making throughout the week...but didn't.  Aside from chopping and cleaning the veggies, this meal is so easy to throw together and uber delicious!!  Serve it with these and you have one oishi meal!!!

1lb Smoked Turkey Sausage Link (Hillshire Farm is the best), sliced 1/4" thick
3 cups butternut squash, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 zucchini, chopped
2 potatoes, chopped and slightly cooked (boil, bake, or microwave)
5 garlic cloves, slightly chopped (I would leave whole if TJ would let me...we compromise at little chunks)
Any other veggies you have on hand...I like asparagus, green peppers, eggplant, sweet potato, carrots, etc...

1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp. salt
1/2 tbsp. pepper
1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. dried Italian herb seasoning

Place the sausage and chopped on a jelly roll pan.  Pour olive oil and seasoning over the top.  Toss until everything is well coated.  Bake at 375 for an hour or so; make sure to mix while it's cooking so everything gets nicely roasted. 

Spinich and Sausage Lasagna

I used to be a firm believer in the good ol' fashioned Costco lasagna.  Why make something for yourself when Costco can make it almost as good, and cheaper.  Then you also don't have the mess and...ahem...it's a fool proof meal for even the poorest of chef's.  However, I have never really found a lasagna recipe that I liked enough to warrant making the dish.  The dish was either too dry, too watery...and don't even get me started on cooking the noodles...yeah...not. going. to. happen.

But, much to my dismay, I live on an island where the goodness of Costco lasagnas can not reach us.  So, I have to improvise.  And then like manna from the heavens, no-boil lasagna noodles rained down from the sky's...begging to be cooked in a home made lasagna.  I conceded...and I'm soooo glad that I did.  Both TJ and I could not stop eating this delicious cheesy, saucy goodness.  I would even go as far as to say that my Costco lasagna days might just be over.  Wow...did I just say that?!?!?!  Well, this meal makes enough for my family one night and one for the freezer down the road.  The perfect situation!!  So, for those of you with a Costco close, give this one a chance.  You might just be as inclined as I am to throw Costco out all together...okay who am I kidding...lasagna may be first on the list...but never will I ever perfect their darn rotisserie chicken.  The thing is like a drug; to which I will always come back for more ;)

1 lb mild pork sausage
1 yellow onion, diced
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tsp minced fresh thyme
6 oz fresh spinach
1 lb ricotta cheese
1 lb cottage cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
squeeze of lemon juice
12 no-boil lasagna noodles
24 oz jar of marinara sauce
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

In a large skillet cook the sausage and onions over medium heat.  Just as sausage begins to brown, add the garlic.  Finish cooking until the sausage is no longer pink.  Drain the excess fat.

Mix together the spinach, ricotta, cottage cheese, salt, nutmeg and lemon juice. 

In one 9 x 13 pan, or two 8 x 8 pans, pour a little marinara sauce on the bottom just enough to cover. Place a single layer of noodles.  Top with 1/3 of the sausage, and 1/3 of the ricotta.  Pour marinara sauce over the top and then repeat the process until all the ingredients are gone.  Top with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes, or until the cheese is browned around the edges and bubbly.  Enjoy!

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

1 tbsp. corn starch
1 tbsp. water

1/2 c soy sauce
1/2 c white sugar
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
2 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 1/2 lbs chicken chopped into chunks - I like boneless, skinless thigh meat for it's richness and depth of flavor...but if you don't like them then just use breasts...tenders are super easy too!

bamboo wooden skewers

Combine corn starch and water in a small bowl and whisk to combine; set aside.  Combine the rest of the ingredients except the chicken in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, whisking constantly.  Slowly incorporate the corn starch and water mixture.  Let boil for a few minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.  Remove from heat and let cool. 

In a large Ziploc bag add the chicken chunks and pour the teriyaki sauce over the top (reserve 1/4 cup for basting).  Let the chicken marinate in the bag for at least two hours...overnight is best.  I like to marinate mine for a few days if I can manage to plan that far in advance!

Before you are ready to serve, skewer the chicken onto your skewers and barbecue.  Baste the skewers with the remaining sauce as you cook them.  Serve immediately!!