Spicy Summer Sausage Stew

I am in a soup mood. I swore off soup after my liquid diet almost 3 years ago, but it really is one of my favorite foods. I got some spicy sausage after moving into my new place yesterday. If you're kinda bored of sausage peppers and onions, this is a great recipe for you.

• 1lb hot Italian sausage
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste
  
• 1 can stewed tomatoes, with liquid
  
• 1/2 chopped zucchini
• 1/2 chopped yellow squash
• 1/2 cup button mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup red onion, diced fine
• 2 bell peppers, chopped fine
• 2 Tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Brown sausage in a skillet with a little cooking spray. Add sausage to crock pot. Add the remaining ingredients to the crock pot. Cook for 6-8 hours on low. This is spicy and super delicious! You can also do this in a large soup pot and simmer for 1-2 hours.

Sausage and Cheese Balls

Ok I'll admit it, it's Superbowl Sunday and I'm sitting here watching Titanic on TBS. I do not get football. But that doesn't stop us from having tons of yummy food around. I found this recipe on a Bisquick website, that I modified to make much more WLS friendly. These are absolutely delicious!

• 2 cups Reduced Fat All Purpose Bisquick mix




• 1 lb hot Italian sausage, casing removed




• 4 cups low fat sharp cheddar cheese




• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese




• 1/2 cup skim milk




• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary




• 1 teaspoon garlic powder




• 2 teaspoons dried parsley




• a few grinds black pepper
  
  

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together. Roll into 1 inch meatballs and place on a foil lined, baking dish (spray the baking dish with cooking spray, or they will stick). Bake for 20-25 minutes. These make a lot depending on how big you make them. You can dip in mustard, chili sauce or whatever you have on hand, but I think they're great plain! I plan on making these again for appetizers for my baby shower, and no one even knows they're low fat.

Sausage, Peppers and Sweet Onions

I like to experiment with the different ways to make this dish. I make a really good version with mango's, but I couldn't find good ones at the store. This is a great dish with minimal preparation.

• 1lb chicken sausage, cut into half inch pieces (I used al fresco garlic chicken sausage, but I usually use trader joes mango chicken sausages.)




• 2 peppers, one red or orange, sliced thin




• 1 large vadalia onion, sliced thin




• 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil




• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley




• 1 Tablespoon chopped garlic




• 1 cup tomato sauce




• salt and pepper




• cooking spray

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add sausage and brown. Add in peppers and onions, salt and pepper and cook until the veggies are soft, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn down heat and add in basil, parsley and garlic. Saute for about 2 minutes. Then add in tomato sauce and stir til heated through. Serve with wheat pasta or brown rice, or by itself!