I have hit the wall when it comes to creativity and cooking. So help me please. I looked in the freezer and saw a smoked sausage (like Peyton's, etc.) you buy in the store. I usually just grill it in the summer, but want to do something different, but what?????? I am off to tutor at the local college, but will check back this afternoon and cull through your ideas.......thank you so much (my DH and DD thank you too). PS. I have basic canned goods and a few fresh -- potoatoes, onions, carrots, celery, cabbage, and have green peppers in the freezer. Also a bit of cauliflower. Thanks

-- connie in nm (karrelandconnie@msn.com), January 23, 2002

Answers

For a quick winter meal I fry up a pan of potatoes with onions and green peppers. A few minutes before the potatoes are done I put in thinly sliced smoked sausage. I serve this with a pan of cornbread.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

I like to slice into a large skillet with tatoes, onions, and peppers too, Like Grannytoo does. I add minced fresh garlic and onion powder. I also like to slow cook it with sauerkraut, onions and shredded tatoes. Sometime when you have the time, cube some up in your favorite lasagna recipe, it's wonderful! Happy cookin!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

We Yankee's from the dutch country like to boil it then serve it on a bun with saurkraut! But if that is too much for yah, how about fry it, fried peppers and onions, tomato sauce, a little red wine, yes for you too, and simmer. OOhh lala I'd even light a candle.

-- julie britt (jbritt@ceva.net), January 23, 2002.

Crockpot It!! Add beans taters and anything else to your tastes!!

-- Grizz (southerneagle@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

Connie, how about red beans and rice? My hubby loves them, and this recipe (my best friend and I put it together from all the cajun cookbooks her mother gave her) is really good!

1 lb. red beans 1 lb. smoked sausage 1 stick BUTTER

1 lge onion, chopped 1 med green pepper, chopped 2 bay leaves

1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp oregano

1 tsp cumin 3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh chopped parsley 2 tbsp soy sauce

3 tbsp worcestershire sauce

Soak beans overnight, or be sure to put this on with plenty of time! Also be sure to use real butter, not margarine!

Gently boil all ingredients together for approximately two hours or until beans are tender. Remove bay leaves, serve over hot cooked rice.

We love this with fresh cornbread and iced tea!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 23, 2002.

In the crockpot: Chop the sausage up in 1/2" slices. Add a package of boneless chicken breasts (or with the bone if thats what you have-- basically some chicken) Add two 10 oz cans of diced tomatoes (or frozen tomatoes, tomatoes you canned....)Add two tblsp of sugar (this makes the tomatoes less acidy)1 tsp of dried cilantro. 1 tsp salt. 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp black pepper (less pepper if you don't like it). Start in the morning before you leave for work. Come home to delicious smells. Serve over rice with a dollop of sour cream. MMMMM Had it last night but with Chorizo sausage. We can't wait until dinner tonight!

To this recipe you may add okra or cabbage or green peppers as you like it. Last night we had fried okra as a side dish.

Good luck.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

Try this one. I got is several years ago out of a outdoor fishing magazine and it has became one of our favorites.

ONE POT BARBEQUE:

2 tblspoons bacon grease, 1 medium onion, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup barbeque sauce, 1 can pinto beans, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can pork n' beans, 1 pkg smoked sausage,

In large pot, chop and sautee' onion in bacon grease. Next add one can each of pinto, kidney, and pork n'beans. Add the barbeque sauce and brown sugar. Chop the smoked sausage up into bit size peices and add. Bring to a quick boil and reduce heat to a slow simmer. Let simmer for 12-15 minutes. Enjoy!

This is real quick and easy to make. We fell in love with it and started taking it to our church functions and got a lot of good comments on it.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), January 23, 2002.

I'm not at home at the moment so I don't have the recipe but jambalaya is good with sausage in it.

-- Susan/MO (smtroxel@socket.net), January 23, 2002.

I have a potato soup recipe that has frozen corn and 1 lb browned polish sausage in it. I found it in Western Horseman magazine last year. It is sooo good. I have no time to type out the whole thing right now but if anyone wants it I'll give it to ya later!

-- Debbie in Mo (risingwind@socket.net), January 23, 2002.

Hi Connie, here's a pretty good recipe and the best part is you have everything in one pot.......take a pot and add a little bacon grease in it, then cut up some onion and cook till tender. Slice up the smoked sausage and add to the onions. I let this cook and brown on medium heat till it starts sticking a little to the pan, better flavor. Add 2 cans of green beans, without draining. Cut up about 5 or so potatoes and add to green beans. Cook until potatoes are tender. Good with corn bread.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), January 23, 2002.

i put some green beans in about a six quart pot, add some potatoes and smoked sausage. let them simmer together for a few hours. they make a gravy and it is really good. and it's a meal!

-- Susan Owen (dsowen@tds.net), January 23, 2002.

How about pot pie using smoked sausage instead of chicken? Cuz

-- Dick Tracy (kbrdrl@lakewebs.net), January 23, 2002.

Hey Connie? With so many recipes with smoked sausage, I was wondering which one you chose and how it tasted. This post sounds like such a good idea on making a recipe cookbook for smoked sausage. Never realized there would be so many ways to do something with smoked sausage. I think I will give a few of these a try myself.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), January 26, 2002.