Cinco de Mayo Feast

Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite pseudo-holidays. Although it has historical significance in certain regions of Mexico, it has become a day to embrace Mexican culture here in America….but for me (and plenty of others, I’m sure), it’s just a great excuse to eat fresh Mexican food and imbibe in some refreshing Mexican spirits. Skip the crowded Mexican restaurant this year, and fix a feast at home. Here are some of my favorite recipes to help you along your way!

Taco Seasoning

• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. chipotle powder (or red pepper powder)
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. paprika

Combine all ingredients. Use to season ground beef, chicken, or steak.

Cilantro & Garlic Chicken

Tender chicken that falls to shreds with the touch of a fork. This can be used as filling for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or quesadillas.

For recipe, click HERE!

Mango Salsa

Super fresh and flavorful, use it as a chip dip or add a spoonful over your entree.

For recipe, click HERE!

Grilled Corn & Avocado Salsa

Super fresh and flavorful, use it as a chip dip or add a spoonful over your entree.

For recipe, click HERE!

Jalapeno Poppers

A baked version of the appetizer favorite.

For recipe, click HERE!

Pork Taquitos

A great way to use up leftover pulled pork

For  recipe, click HERE!

Mexican Rice

For  recipe, click HERE!

Guacamole

• 2 ripe avocados
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tap. pepper
• Dash Tabasco sauce

Combine all ingredients, mash with a fork until desired consistency is reached.

For a zestier guacamole, add 2 tablespoons of salsa, 2 tablespoons of minced red onion, and a handful of chopped cilantro.

Margarita

Last, but certainly not least, the quintessential Mexican cocktail.

For the recipe, click HERE!

Lemon & Honey Grilled Chicken

After a trip to the Savannah Bee Company, I’ve been mildly addicted to their Sourwood Honey. The local store is a favorite of ours. Beyond the great honey and products, they have a live hive inside (no, the bees don’t fly around the store…but you can watch them work through the clear walls!) and a children’s “hive” for coloring and reading. While shopping one day, I indulged in no less than 8 samples before deciding I really ought to buy some of the liquid gold.

Even if you don’t have a jar of sourwood, you should try using some good honey the next time you fire up the grill. Lemon & Honey Grilled Chicken combines the tang of lemon (which tenderizes the meat during the marinating time) with the sweetness of honey to create a flavorful departure from your standard grilled BBQ chicken.

Marinade

• Chicken (thighs, trimmed)
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 C. red wine vinegar
• 2 T. olive oil
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 T. dried Italian herb blend
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients except chicken in a food processor or blender. Pulse until well chopped and blended. Pour marinade over chicken, and refrigerate for a few hours (I did 4).

Lemon & Honey Glaze

• 1/4 C. lemon juice
• 1 T. honey (sourwood)
• 1 T. butter, melter
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Whisk all ingredients together. Brush onto chicken in at the end of the cooking time.

Getting Saucy & Getting Fit

The Man and I recently started a new workout routine. “Workout routine” is kind of an understatement…more like The Man and I have chosen to get our asses handed to us every day for the next 60 days and we love it! And even though we walked into this with no real intentions of changing our diet, we have both been craving more protein and more fresh veggies. So for dinner last night it was Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and a heaping pile of Snow Pea Salad on the side. Full of flavor and color, everyone can get into this healthy meal – even if you aren’t working on your beachbody.

I found this recipe for Snow Pea Salad on Pinterest a few months back. The dressing is simple, and the ingredients are fresh and crisp. If you can’t find fresh snow peas, sugar snap peas would be a good substitute. And I couldn’t find fresh edamame beans (frozen just won’t work for this dish) so I skipped them. And the only yellow peppers I could find were the size of my head….so I went with orange. But that is kind of the beauty of this recipe – you can modify it endlessly. Thin sliced mushrooms, cilantro, diced avocado, baby corn…any and all would make awesome additions!

Anyone can put chicken on a stick and throw it over the hot coals….but to get this chicken extra tender and full of flavor, I suggest marinating it for a couple of hours before cooking time. I was happy to find thin sliced chicken breasts at my store (and on sale!) which I just had to cut into 2-ish inch strips. If you can’t find these, no worries. You can always slice your chicken in half lengthwise – just be sure to use a sharp knife and take your time to get two even halves. Marinate the chicken for about 6 hours before draining and threading onto the wooden skewers.

Since the chicken is thin, it won’t take long to grill. Towards the end of the cooking time, it’s time to get saucy. Brush a thin layer of the peanut sauce on one side, flip them over, and let the sauce cook on for a minute or so. Then do the same with the other side. Alternatively, you could serve the peanut sauce on the side and let people dip to their liking. I did both….because I can’t get enough peanut sauce!

Did you make too much peanut sauce, and need a good idea on how to use it?? Try a Thai Chicken Pizza!

Satay Marinade

• 1 lb. chicken breasts, 1/2″ thick and 2″ wide
• 3 T. soy sauce
• 2 T. seasame oil
• 1 T. Tabasco sauce
• 1/4 tsp. Chinese 5 spice
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed 
• 1/2 C. water

Combine all ingredients in a large ziplock bag. Refrigerate for 6+ hours.

Peanut Sauce

• 1/4 C. peanut butter
• 1 tsp. oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 – 1/2 C. chicken stock (or water)
• 1 tsp. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp. ginger (powder or freshly grated)
• 1/2 tsp. curry powder
• 1/2 tsp. hot sauce

Heat up oil in a small sauce pan. Saute garlic for about 2 minutes. Add in peanut butter and remaining ingredients. Allow to simmer then remove from heat. You want the sauce to be slightly runny. Set aside until ready to use.

Grilled Chicken Satay

• Marinated chicken, drained
• Wooden skewers (one per chicken piece)
• Peanut sauce

Run a wooden skewer through each piece of chicken. On a medium heat grill, cook chicken until cooked through (about 4 minutes per side). Brush peanut sauce on each side, cooking for another minute per side. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Curried Chicken Salad

I’ve always shied away saladized dishes – chicken salad, potato salad, coleslaw, egg salad…pretty much anything that is slathered in mayonnaise. I just don’t like the thought of yummy fresh ingredients swimming in mayo. But then I realized I could cut the mayo in salad dishes with sour cream or Greek yogurt…and now I’ve opened my horizons to all things saladized (except egg salad….that’s still on my no-thank-you list).

I made chicken stock on Sunday, and decided to use the leftover meat to try out Ina Garten’s Curried Chicken Salad recipe. Curried Chicken Salad is such a retro dish, but it definitely deserves a comeback (if skinny jeans and neon can make it in the 21st century, then this dish certainly has a place in modern culture!) If you don’t happen to be making chicken stock today (come on, why not?) feel free to use bone-in split chicken breasts, as in Garten’s original recipe. You could even use a store-bought rotisserie chicken if you don’t have the time (or inclination) to cook a chicken today.

Before starting on this 5-star dish, I looked through the comments and reviews it received. That’s the great thing about finding recipes on the internet – you can get tips and suggestions from people who have actually tried it out. Whether it’s adding/substituting ingredients, modifying measurements, or handy information about the dish (like the fact that you will have WAY too much sauce!), reading the comments before making a new dish is always worth your time.

Considering the number of people who gave Garten’s recipe rave reviews, I didn’t want to make many modifications. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – right? But I know my taste buds, and there are a few things I changed to suit my own tastes. The first thing I addressed was the mayonnaise situation – one and a half cups!? Gross….I cut the yick factor by replacing 1/2 a cup with low-fat plain Greek yogurt. Some reviewers of the recipe actually replaced all of the mayo with yogurt – which I may try next time. I chose to add a little red onion and Italian flat leaf parsley. I had them both on hand, and I like the extra crunch and color. But I stuck with the raisins (some suggested craisins or grapes) and cashews – and I think you could go heavy on both.

When it came to eating this fabulous curry concoction, I went with a wrap. A soft flour tortilla, fresh mixed greens, a generous squeeze or Sriracha, and a few extra cashews, and your taste buds will scream Thank you!! This would also make a great sandwich, a dip with pita chips, or just eat it with a spoon….

Curried Chicken Salad

• 3 C. cooked chicken
• 1 C. cashews
• 1/2 C. celery, diced
• 1/4 C. raisins
• 1/4 C. red onion, diced
• 1/4 C. green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 C. parsley, chopped
• 1 C. mayonnaise
• 1/2 C. plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 C. mango chutney
• 1/3 C. white wine
• 3 T. curry powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

In a large bowl combine chicken, cashews, celery, raisins, red onion, green onion and parsley. For the sauce, whisk together mayo, yogurt, mango chutney curry powder, salt and pepper. Pour just enough sauce over chicken mixture to moisten. You will have extra sauce. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Grilled Vegetable Couscous

Spring has come and gone a dozen times in the last few months. It’s 75F and sunny one day, then 45F and raining the next. I am so ready for this hard-to-get Spring to make it’s appearance and stay! Maybe if I grill up some Spring veggies, and act like the cold doesn’t bother me, Springtime will quit playing games….

Couscous is a quick-cooking, small granule pasta. It is bland and boring a blank slate, that is ready and waiting for tons of flavor. Treat couscous like pasta (technically, it is pasta), and consider this dish a “pasta salad”.  My store had zucchini, yellow squash and cherry tomatoes on sale – so they were all a must. Then I picked up a purple onion and a red bell pepper to round out the flavors.

 Grilled Vegetable Couscous

• 1 C. couscous
• 1 C. chicken stock
• 1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
• 1 yellow squash, quartered lengthwise
• 1/2 purple onion, cut into 1/2″ rounds
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1/2 Pt. cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 C. parley, chopped
• 2 T. sliced olives
• 1 T. capers
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 T. olive oil
• 2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
• salt and pepper to taste

Brush zucchini, squash, onion and bell pepper with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Make a boat out of tinfoil for cherry tomatoes. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Put all vegetables onto a medium-heat grill. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until vegetables have softened. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Chop vegetables into bite-sized pieces.

Put couscous in a large bowl. Bring chicken stock to a boil. Pour stock over couscous, then cover with plastic wrap. Allow to steam for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Add chopped vegetables to couscous. Add in parsley, olives, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Mix in feta. Serve warm or room temperature.

Grilled Vegetable Couscous pairs well with Beer Can Chicken. Also serve it with some warm pita bread and hummus.

Don’t forget to enter the first ever Highfalutin Duck Gift Card Giveaway!!

Chicken Meyers

I don’t make many casseroles. But this has been a favorite since my days in England. The recipe comes from an English cook book titled “The Dairy Book of Home Cookery – New Edition for the 90’s”. Well the 90’s are ancient history now, but this quick dish is still en vogue at my house. Serve this chicken and broccoli casserole over rice or roasted potatoes.

Chicken Meyers

• 8 Oz. broccoli florets (fresh preferred)
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 Oz. each)
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/4 C. mayonnaise
• 1/4 C. milk
• 1/2 tsp. curry powder
• Cheddar, shredded

In a single layer, place chicken in the bottom of a casserole dish. Place broccoli around and in between chicken pieces.

Prepare sauce – combine condensed soup, mayonnaise, milk and curry powder. Evenly spoon sauce over chicken and broccoli. Top with cheese.

Bake at 375F for 45 – 50 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

What’s on the Plate This Week? 2/10/2013

Pasta, pasta and more pasta! I had a request from a penny pinching college student to post some more pasta recipes. I love all things pasta, and am more than happy to oblige. So here ya go Kevin – it’s Pasta Week!

Sunday Dinner

Gyro Burger with Greek Pasta Salad – A spiced lamb and beef patty, served on warm pita bread with fresh Tzatziki sauce.

Later in the week

Pesto Chicken Lasagna – Rotisserie chicken tossed in a pine nut-free pesto, and layered with tomato-cream sauce, spinach and lemon-basil ricotta.

Chicken Ragu – With a long simmer in a savory tomato sauce, this chicken shreds to pieces.

Cilantro & Garlic Tacos with Mango Salsa

When I met The Man, he claimed to not like Mexican food. But I love Mexican food! Ok, I thought, this is a small concession that I can live with. But a life without Mexican food means no fresh salsas, no garlic and cilantro marinated meats, no cheesy saucy baked tortilla dishes….no Margarita Thursdays!? Ok, this was a bigger problem than I first thought!

His former experience with Mexican cuisine involved greasy, bland concoctions that contained suspect meat products and void of all vegetables. Yea, I would hate that too. When I think Mexican, I think fresh, full of complex flavors, and tons of color. Well it turns out that he doesn’t hate Mexican food – he just hates bad Mexican food! Phew! We dodged a bullet there…

Let’s start with the meat. Whether I’m making chicken or steak tacos, I like to start with the same marinade – a cilantro and lime vinaigrette with a hint of spice and lots of citrus. After a few hours in the acidic and flavor punching bath, meat has no choice but to be tender and juicy. A few minutes on a hot grill, and you’ve got a fab foundation for a great taco.

The choice of taco toppings is endless – sliced avocado, salsa, shredded lettuce, cilantro, cheese, corn salsa, guacamole, chipotle sour cream, diced tomatoes, sauteed onions and peppers….in fact, if you’re hosting a casual party, a taco bar is a great buffet idea! Tonight I’m gonna go with fresh mango salsa and sliced avocado (and probably a little cheese and sour cream too…). If you can’t find good fresh mango, frozen works alright too. It’s not quite as good – but it’s better than no mango salsa.

Cilantro & Garlic Tacos

• 1 1/2 Lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 C. cilantro and garlic marinade
• Flour tortillas
• Mango salsa
• Sliced avocado
• Shredded cheddar
• Sour cream

Marinate chicken breasts in marinade for at least 6 hours. Remove from marinade and grill on medium for 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Allow meat to rest for 10 minutes, then shred with 2 forks.

Warm tortillas on the grill for about 1 minute per side. Alternately, heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds.

To assemble, place a scoopful of chicken on to warm taco shell. Top with mango salsa, 2 slices of avocado, a Tablespoon of cheese, and a small spoonful of sour cream.

Cilantro & Garlic Marinade

• 1/2 onion, roughly chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 jalapeno, halved
• Lime zest and juice, from 1 lime
• Handful fresh cilantro
• 1/3 C. orange juice
• 1/3 C. olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. cumin

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until everything is smooth and combined. Marinate chicken for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight. Makes enough marinade for 6 chicken breasts.

Mango Salsa

• 1 mango, diced
• 1/4 C. red onion, finely diced
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
• Handful cilantro, chopped
• Juice of one lime
• 1 T. olive oil
• Pinch of salt, pepper, and cumin

Combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

The Lighter Side of Football Fare

Despite my team being out of it, the NFL playoffs have made for some exciting TV the last couple weekends. And for me, good football pairs nicely with good food (and cold beer). But the go-to grub for a football spread tends to be fried, fattening, and void of some key food groups. If celery with ranch is the only vegetable on your spread, then your spread needs some work! And don’t worry – I’m not about to spring some lentils or tofu on you. And I wouldn’t even call this “healthy” food – it’s just good food….that won’t be hanging on your thighs/gut after the Super Bowl! So here is the spread – grilled Teryaki Chicken, Cucumber Boats, Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Grilled Corn & Avocado Salsa, and Buffalo Chicken Sausage in Wonton Cups.

Teryaki Chicken

We gotta have some wings. But they don’t have to be fried, and they don’t have to be dripping in a sauce whose main ingredient is butter (although, we will use some of that sauce towards the end of the post). Chicken is a clean slate for flavor – if you want flavor, you need to add it yourself. I started with wings and legs in a brine – salty and sweet, a brine will infuse the meat with moisture and ensure the end result is super tender. It’s ideal to brine the meat over night. But even 2 to 3 hours in a brine is better than none at all.

Take the chicken out of the brine about an hour before cooking time. This gives the meat a chance to rest, and for your dry rub to get comfy. The rub needs to compliment the finishing glaze – which for me is teryaki. So a simple rub of salt, pepper, and Chinese Five Spice will do. Coat the meat, and rub it in good. Let the meat hang out in the fridge, uncovered, until it’s time to cook.

Speaking of cooking – it’s time to fire up the grill! I use a gas grill because of easy/quick start up and very little clean up. If you are using charcoal, put your coals only on one side – we want to be set up for indirect heat. I start my grill on high and let it warm up. Then I turn 1 burner off, and 1 burner to medium-high. Put the chicken over the off burner, and leave it be. It will need to be turned eventually – but don’t mess with it too much. I’d say every 15 minutes, give the pieces a turn. If you are impatient, or just really don’t have the time – go ahead and grill them on direct heat. But the indirect method will yield a crispy skin and tender meat – simulating a fried wing, without all the fat.

Once the meat is thinking about divorcing itself from the bones, it’s time for the glaze. Turn your burner back on, and up to about medium (or just move the meat over your coals, if using a charcoal grill). Brush the wings and legs with the teryaki glaze, and allow it to cook for a minute I like the glaze to get cooked on, with some crispy bits – but be careful, the glaze can burn.

• 6 wings
• 6 legs
• Brine
• Dry rub
• Teryaki glaze (store bought)

Brine

• 4 C. Water
• 1/4 C. Salt
• 2 T. Soy sauce
• 1/4 C. sugar
• 1 tsp. Pepper
• 1 tsp. Tabasco sauce

Combine all ingredients. Whisk until sugar and salt are dissolved. Pour over chicken and seal in a zip-lock bag. Allow to marinate at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.

Dry Rub

• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. Chinese 5 Spice

Cucumber Boats

If you ever look at Pinterest, then you have seen this recipe from Bite Delite. It looks fresh and flavorful, so I’m giving it a try! It seems an easy addition to our spread. I made some minor changes though. First, I added a little garlic infused olive oil. I aslo added a squeeze of lime juice. I also assembled the boats a few hours in advance. I put the unsliced, filled cucumbers on a plate, and wrapped tightly with plastic wrap. This helped to keep the filling in place when I sliced them.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

WARNING! This dip may vanish in front of your eyes. For real…If you are having a big crowd, you may want to double up the recipe. If you have friends like mine (you know who you are!) you may want to triple it. And how is this “lightened” up, you may ask? Yes, it has mayonnaise and full fat sour cream….but is has twice the amount of vegetables, and half the amount of parmesan cheese as the Joy of Cooking Baked Artichoke Dip recipe.

Make sure that you don’t buy “marinated” artichoke hearts. They are swimming in olive oil, and we don’t want that for this recipe. I buy the quarters, and rough chop them. But feel free to leave them in quarters, if you prefer. This is easily made in advance, just leave the bread crumbs off until ready to bake.

• 1/4 C. onion, minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1/2 C. Mayonnaise
• 1/2 C. Sour cream
• 1 14 oz. can artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1 10 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• 1/2 C. Parmesan, grated
• 1/4 C. Panko breadcrumbs

Saute onion in olive oil until softened. Add in garlic, and saute for another 2 minutes. Combine Mayo, sour cream, onion mixture, artichokes, spinach, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a greased baking dish. Top with bread crumbs. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Dip should be bubbly and starting to brown. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, or warm pita bread.

Grilled Corn & Avocado Salsa

This is a salsa that I like to make on Taco Night (AKA Margarita Thursday). It’s so colorful, and pops with flavor – the perfect topping to a grilled steak taco….man, I should make some grilled steak tacos soon…. But I always end up with too much of this stuff and find myself hovering over the bowl, with a bag of tortilla chips – it’s too good to let it go to waste! So  today I’m skipping the tacos, and going straight to hover mode.

Feel free to change things up – add some jalapeno, different colored peppers, maybe roasted garlic? But don’t make too much – you don’t want leftovers. Avocados just don’t jive the next day – the texture changes, the browning sets in, and they just start to get funky.

• 4 ears of corn
• 1 orange bell pepper, quartered (ribs and seeds removed)
• 1/2 red onion, sliced into thick rings
• 1 avocado, diced
• Cherry tomatoes, halved
• Cilatro
• Lime juice
• Olive oil
• Salt, pepper, cumin to taste

Brush corn, onion and pepper with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until corn is cooked through and other veggies are soft. Allow to cool. Cut the corn off of the cob and rough chop onion and pepper.

In a bowl combine corn, onion, pepper, tomatoes, avocado and cilantro. Squeeze the juice of two limes directly into the bowl and drizzle with olive oil (1 – 2 T.). Season with salt, pepper and cumin. Mix thoroughly. Refrigerated until ready to serve.

Buffalo Chicken Sausage in Wonton Cups

A few years back my mother-in-law made these Bob Evans sausage cups for a Thanksgiving appetizer. They flew off the plate. But they were a little on the heavy and salty side. I’m using the Bob Evans concept, but I’m lightening it up a little. First change, I’m not using Bob Evans sausage….sorry Bob.

• 24 Wonton wrappers
• 1 lb. chicken sausage, removed from casings (spicy, if desired)
• 1 C. Mexican blend, shredded cheese
• 1/4 C. yogurt Ranch dressing
• 1/4 C. buffalo hot sauce (Frank’s)

Lightly spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray. Line each cup with a wonton skin, to form little cups. Bake at 350F for 5 minutes, until lightly browned.

Saute sausage, breaking into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Drain. Combine cooked sausage, Ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, and cheese. Scoop filling into wonton cups, and bake at 350F for 10 minutes (or until bubbly).

Tortellini with Chicken Sausage & Brussel Sprouts

I have a love/hate relationship with Pinterest. On the love side, it’s a great place to find inspiration, and to organize your (I mean other people’s…) ideas. On the hate side – clicking a pin that takes you to another “pinning” site, that takes you to another website, that links to the “original” post….and after 47 clicks you still haven’t found the recipe you were looking for. Jeeze…now I’m irritated. Thankfully that doesn’t happen as often as my real Pin-Peeve – gorgeous pictures accompanied by bland, boring recipes.

I kept encountering this delicious looking picture on Pinterest. It was a recipe for chicken sausage, roasted brussel sprout and pesto pasta – it looked amazing, and sounded healthy! What could go wrong!? A recipe that was not nearly as exciting, THAT is what could go wrong. It wasn’t terrible, and it was a good starting point. But I knew that with only a little more effort (and some additions) this so-so dish could be a great dish!

• 1 lb. Cheese tortellini, cooked to package instructions
• 1 lb. Chicken sausage, casings removed1 T. butter
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2 T. Fresh thyme
• 1 lb. Brussel sprouts, trimmed and sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 C. Chicken stock
• 1/4 C. Pesto
• Handful of pinenuts, lightly toasted
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese, grated

In a heavy bottom pot, brown the sausage in a little olive oil. Break it up with a wooden spoon into bite sized pieces. Once browned, remove with a slotted spoon to drain.

If needed, add a little more olive oil. Add onions over medium high heat, and cook until soft and translucent. Turn the heat to medium, and continue cooking until starting to caramelize (about 10 minutes).

Add in butter, brussel sprouts, thyme and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring regularly until brussel sprouts are soft and starting to color. Pour in stock to deglaze the pan. Use your spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan. Put a lid on it, turn heat to low for 5 minutes.

Add cooked pasta to the pot and toss to completely combine. Allow the pasta to cook for another minute or two. Remove from heat and gently fold in pesto and pine nuts. Garnish each serving with parmesan and fresh pepper.