leftovers

 The other night I made bolognese sauce in my slow cooker. I used three of the the five Italian sausages in the package, and wrapped the other two up, hoping that i would find something to do with 2 sausages before I had to throw them out.

I did think of something!

Tonight at work, Dr. Dyson said that she was making chorizo and black beans for dinner.

I like beans. 

I have sausage, but it isn't chorizo...

I came home and knew that I wanted to do something with those Italian sausages and a can of cannellini beans. I ended up with this soup.

Sausage, cannellini beans, one zucchini, one carrot, two stalks of celery, a white onion, 3 cloves of garlic, fresh thyme, fresh bay leaf, a chopped tomato, and crushed red pepper, with a chicken stock base.

Just brown the sausage in olive oil, add the zucchini, celery, carrot, onion and garlic. Sweat those for a minute, then add the beans, herbs, crushed red pepper, and tomato. Cover with stock. Bring to a boil and let it bubble for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 more.

I sprinkled parsley and a drizzle of olive oil on top, but it would be lovely with some pecorino romano. too.

Let's hear it for soup! Hazaa!

chocolate is a good thing.

 

  I wanted to make a chocolate tart.

I ended up with a dark chocolate tart with vanilla and Jameson Irish Whiskey in a walnut crust with smoked grey salt. 

It was a lovely upgrade 

Interesting tidbit: When writing "whiskey," it's appropriate to include the 'e' for Irish whiskeys and American whiskeys. For Scotch whisky, it's just the 'y.'

Hm.

 Recipe is here at Ever So Sweet.

♥

Slow cooker bolognese

Today was a crazy day. Sugar test on Eglin at 7 am (which meant up at 5, left by 6), dentist appointment at 11 am 40 minutes from the hospital, then a prenatal appointment back at Eglin at 2.

Ridiculous.

I don't have diabetes, by the way. My blood barely spiked during my glucose test. 

Anyway, between the dentist and leaving for my 2 o'clock appointment, I had about an hour at home. 

I chose to spend said hour prepping dinner and facebooking.

Mostly prepping dinner. 

I put a quick bolognese sauce together in my slow cooker (which is actually a Cuisinart Multi-Cooker, you should get one.) 

I'm not a fan of beef sauces, so mine uses hot Italian sausage. I also don't add pancetta or prosciutto or cream, but if you're a traditionalist, feel free.

Slow Cooker Bolognese

-recipe by me-

olive oil

3-4 links hot Italian sausage, casings removed

2 cloves of garlic, smashed. Don't even worry about chopping them.

1 small white onion, diced small

3 stalks celery, diced small

2 medium carrots, grated

2 fresh bay leaves or 1 dried

2 sprigs-worth of fresh thyme leaves

pinch of fresh oregano

crushed red pepper flakes

dry red wine, about 1/3 cup (I used a Spanish red, but use whatever you have open)

1 28 oz can crushed San Marzano tomatoes

chicken stock to thin, if desired

In your slow cooker (or a skillet if you can't brown in your slow cooker) heat the oil, then add the sausage, breaking it up as it cooks. Toss in the garlic cloves, onion, celery, carrots, herbs and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and pepper and allow the vegetables to sweat a little. 

Add the wine, then the tomatoes. If it's too thick for your liking, add a little stock.

Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Now all you have to do is toss some pasta in boiling water once you're home, and dinner is done in 10 minutes. 

I like to top mine with fresh parmigiano reggiano and chopped parsley, because it's tasty and looks pretty.

Mostly because it looks pretty.

Photos from the week

 Global warming at it's finest! The Eastern Bluebirds are nesting... in February. 3 eggiwegs already.

 Nessie! Bigfoot! No, just another backyard otter sighting. Suckers are big. Excuse the blurry picture.

 Cupcakes! Lavender chocolate with lavender vanilla buttercream. Delicious and cute!

 Posted a little late, but better late than never. My Valentine's Day flowers from Ricky. He did quite an excellent job.

Petite filets with roasted potatoes and asparagus. I still cook I swear! (Ricky has wine, I have cherry juice.)

We enjoyed the aforementioned meal at our new dining room table! We have 6 chairs, but for some reason there's only 5 in this picture. We got it at World Market, I'm in love with it. I find myself searching for reasons to sit at it. I'm at it right now writing this blog!