Tag: Sausage

Breakfast Pizza | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Breakfast Pizza

Renee Leave a comment

Breakfast Pizza | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Right, we’ll talk about breakfast pizza in a minute. First, can we chat about working out? You know I hate it intensely. I’ve managed to make it to week 5 of a couch to 5K app without dying, but I’m on the verge of quitting again. I have to run 20 minutes straight, and if I don’t die of a heart attack, I’ll surely die of boredom. I can’t think of anything more dull than running for 20 minutes straight. Running is the actual worst.

We watched Captain America: The Winter Soldier for the first time the other night, and I think I may have found my dream workout class. Not that it exists. If someone ran a sexy super spy fight choreography fitness class, I’d sign up for sure. I always hear women talking about going to pole dancing classes rambling on about how empowering it is. I’m giving a hard eye roll to that. Teach me to kick ass like the Black Widow. That’s gotta be some real empowerment. 

I don’t want to actually hurt anyone. I just want to learn movie fighting. It’s so beautiful somehow. Does anyone else want to sign up for this imaginary class with me?

Breakfast Pizza | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

I doubt Scarlett Johansson gets to eat Breakfast Pizza before getting geared up in her leather suit with her choke wire. She probably has to be carb-free for a month and go on a juice cleanse to fit into all of that. But we’re not action movie stars, so we can eat as much breakfast pizza as we want. Lucky us because it’s pretty hard to stop eating this.

To make this recipe in the UK requires a few adjustments because of the different ingredients that are available. I used puff pastry for the crust because they didn’t have any croissant dough available. I used this triangular frozen hash Breakfast Pizza | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day browns but smashed them up in the pan as they were cooking. I also used my old standby of Cumberland sausage jazzed up with cumin and crushed red chilli flakes. Cheddar cheese and eggs are still cheddar cheese and eggs.

 

Maybe if we go to super spy class, we can eat Breakfast Pizza without feeling guilty. Or we could just skip the guilt, and eat what makes us happy. It’s gonna be awesome.

Breakfast Pizza
Serves 6
Breakfast Pizza has all your morning favorites delivered on a flaky crust.
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Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
20 min
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
20 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 cans crescent rolls (you may not need them all, but buy two just in case) or 1 can croissant dough or 1 sheet puff pastry
  2. 1 pound sausage meat, casing removed
  3. Frozen hash browns (enough to cover a 10 inch skillet)
  4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  5. 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  6. 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  7. 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  8. 4 eggs
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Start cooking your sausage in a skillet over medium high heat. Break it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. You can add some extra seasoning if you like.
  3. In the meantime, spread a layer of crescent rolls over the bottom of a pizza pan or baking sheet. Rectangular breakfast pizza is completely acceptable. Pop this in the oven for five minutes to get a head start on cooking. This will prevent soggy crust.
  4. When the sausage is cooked through, carefully remove it from the pan to a paper towel-lined plate.
  5. In the same pan with the fat from the sausage, brown your hash browns. You may even need to add a bit more oil to prevent sticking. Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Toss the potatoes from time to time to brown them on all sides. This should take five to ten minutes depending on how brown you like them.
  6. Assemble your pizza by spreading the sausage around your parcooked crust. Next pile on the hash browns. Scatter the whole thing with cheese.
  7. In a small mixing bowl, beat four eggs. Ever so carefully, pour the eggs over your pizza, allowing it to seep through all the crevices.
  8. Bake your pizza in the oven for 20 minutes until golden. It will smell like sausage heaven when it's ready.
  9. Allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. I like mine dotted with hot sauce.
Adapted from How to be Awesome on $20 a Day
Adapted from How to be Awesome on $20 a Day
How to be Awesome on $20 a day https://awesomeon20.com/
Creamy Sausage Dip | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Creamy Sausage Dip

Renee Leave a comment

Creamy Sausage Dip | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Hey, friends. Thanks so much to those of you who left me sweet words of encouragement after my last post. I’m feeling empowered to make changes, not only to on my site, but in my life in general. I started by buying some brightly colored, elastic waist, wide leg pants to wear on the plane. They’re so comfy, but it’s hard to believe I’m actually allowed to wear these out in public. They’re basically fancy pajamas. I would normally never wear such a wide line for fear of looking fat, but I’m leaning in to cozy comfort and self-care this year, and so far, it’s working out well. Thanks to Kendi for the inspiration. 

And yet, despite all this willingness to try new things, I’m bringing you another “classic” recipe today. Read: an old recipe from waaaay back when I first started the blog and had no idea what I was doing. Real talk, I don’t have time to test enough new recipes during the week to bring you something brand new every week. Some of the stuff I try is a dud, and I’m not sharing anything with you unless it’s totally awesome. But reshooting old recipes helps me see how much I’ve grown. And even if I’m not as good as the professionals, I’m much better at food photography than I used to be, and that’s something worth being proud of I guess.

Creamy Sausage Dip | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Now that I’ve figured out how to make English sausage taste like something, I’m feeling much more confident about bringing some of my old recipes back into rotation. Today it’s Creamy Sausage Dip. We eat chips and dip for dinner on the reg, but even if you’re not a heathen and eat actual food for dinner, this is a great hot dip for a game day party, movie night, or other gathering where people are pretending they’re not hungry but actually want to pig out on something savoury and delicious.

I think you might be able to stir just about anything into some warm cream cheese and come out with something heavenly, but spicy bits of sausage and some tomato and chillies definitely work. This dip comes together quickly all in one skillet. You could even make it in a cast-iron and serve it right in that. Damn, I should have done that for my photos.

Creamy Sausage Dip | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

We’re embracing the new and reimagining some classics and generally loving life. Put some creamy sausage dip on your table, and don’t forget to be awesome.

Creamy Sausage Dip
Serves 4
Creamy Sausage Dip is a little bit spicy and a lot bit awesome.
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
15 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
15 min
Ingredients
  1. 8 oz Cumberland sausage, casings removed
  2. 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  3. 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  4. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  5. 1 clove garlic, minced
  6. 4 ounces chopped tomatoes with chillies
  7. 8 ounces cream cheese
  8. Sturdy chips for dipping
Instructions
  1. In a skillet over medium heat, add your sausage and break it up into small pieces with your wooden spoon. Sprinkle in the cumin, red pepper flakes and black pepper, and stir to mix. Stir occasionally until the sausage is cooked through.
  2. Add the garlic and tomatoes with chillies. Stir to combine.
  3. Finally, add in your cream cheese, and stir until the cream cheese is melted and just starts to bubble.
  4. Transfer your dip to a bowl, or not as you please. Serve warm with your favorite tortilla chips.
Notes
  1. If you're making this recipe in the US, you can just use Jimmy Dean or another bulk breakfast sausage that you love. You may or may not want to omit the cumin and red and black pepper. American sausage is already well seasoned.
Adapted from How to be Awesome on $20 a Day
Adapted from How to be Awesome on $20 a Day
How to be Awesome on $20 a day https://awesomeon20.com/
Cheesy Sausage Squares | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Cheesy Sausage Squares

Renee 1 Comment

Cheesy Sausage Squares | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

After two and a half years living in the UK, not only do I have to fork over all my money to renew my visa, but I have also finally started to figure out how to make British ingredients mock some of my American favorites. 

This recipe involves two American products that I love and was so sad to have to live without. The first is Jimmy Dean sausage, and the second is Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Put those two things together, and you are basically guaranteed to be eating something awesome. Their absence left a sad hole in my life. 

Cheesy Sausage Squares | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

I’ve managed to partially fill those holes. Jus-Roll croissants are not 100% exactly the same as crescent rolls, but they’re pretty damn awesome. I have been known to eat all six of them by myself in one day. They also perform really well in recipes like this, better than just regular puff pastry.

Jimmy Dean sausage is a bit trickier to pin down, but I’ve found that if you add cumin and and crushed red pepper flakes to Cumberland sausage, it’s tasty enough to be getting on with. 

I’ve been testing lots of recipes lately, and nothing had really been exciting me until I made these Cheesy Sausage Squares. I mean, it’s hard to say no to something this loaded with cheese. We send that spicy sausage swimming in some cream cheese, lay some shredded cheddar on top of that, and wrap the whole thing in pastry by way of buttery, flaky croissants in a can. We like to keep it classy around here.

Cheesy Sausage Squares | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

It takes some time to figure life out, but occasionally you solve some problems and then get to eat delicious things. These Cheesy Sausage Squares were an excellent discovery.

Cheesy Sausage Squares
Serves 6
Cheesy Crescent Squares are an absolutely creamy delicious start to your morning.
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 can croissants or crescent squares
  2. 1 pound sausage, casings removed
  3. 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  4. 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  5. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  6. 8 ounces cream cheese
  7. 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375F and lightly grease a rectangular casserole or baking dish.
  2. Unroll your croissants and cover the bottom of your pan with the dough. Trim off the excess of the roll and save it for the top.
  3. Cook your sausage over medium heat in a large skillet, breaking it up with your wooden spoon as it cooks. While it's cooking, add the cumin, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper, and stir it through evenly.
  4. Once your sausage is cooked through, add the cream cheese to the skillet, and stir as it melts to combine it with the sausage.
  5. Add your sausage cream cheese mixture to your casserole dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the sausage, then cover the whole thing with another layer of your croissant dough. If you have any excess, trim it off.
  6. Bake the whole thing for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is browned.
  7. Allow this to cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares.
Adapted from Pilsbury
Adapted from Pilsbury
How to be Awesome on $20 a day https://awesomeon20.com/
Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy

Renee Leave a comment

Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

I went back to work this week, and thankfully it was only for two days because any longer might have killed me. Two and a bit weeks of being totally chill was absolute bliss, so any level of responsibility after that is a bit of a shock to the system. It reminded me how grateful I am to work indoors in a clean, heated office, even if not everyone I work with smells extremely awesome. That’s what they make air freshener for, right?

Eating at work is definitely not as fun, though I do consume a lot fewer calories when I’m at the office. To be honest, I’ve spent the past few days randomly stuffing popcorn and peanut M&Ms in my face that were left over from last time we went to the movies. Maybe I should make 2018 the year I eat well at work. Does anybody know how to do that? Send tips.

Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

We’re still doing it up right at the weekends, though. I made you some Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy. Don’t panic, British friends. Please trust me when I tell you that this recipe is completely awesome. 

The biscuits are so tender and flavorful with the perfect thin crispy crust on the outside. They’re flecked with green onion and fresh parsley for added flavor, and they smell completely perfect coming out of the oven. I don’t even bother to use a biscuit cutter. I just pat out the dough and divide it into four with a pizza cutter. 

The gravy is not strictly traditional, but pork is so lean these days, making a roux ensures that you have plenty of gravy to go around. We actually had a little leftover that still tastes awesome on some buttered toast. My favorite sausage for gravy in the US has got to be Jimmy Dean Hot, but in the UK the sausage is, shall we say, a bit more subtly flavored. Cumberland sausage is the way to go, and just make sure you check your gravy for seasoning. You may need to add a bit more salt, pepper, and cayenne. 

Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

I’m falling more and more in love with food as time goes on. Let’s spend all our time in the kitchen and make everything. Starting with Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Gravy. It’s gonna be so awesome.

Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy
Serves 4
Herbed Biscuits & Creamy Sausage Gravy is an awesome version of an American classic that deserves some love on all sides of the pond.
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Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
30 min
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
30 min
For the biscuits
  1. 1 cup all-purpose flour
  2. 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  3. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  4. 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  5. 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
  6. 1/2 cup buttermilk
  7. 1 green onion, green top only
  8. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
For the gravy
  1. 1 green onion, white part leftover from the biscuits
  2. 1 pound pork sausage
  3. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  4. 4 tablespoons flour
  5. 1 cup single cream
  6. 1 cup milk
  7. Cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste
For the biscuits
  1. Preheat your oven to 450F.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Cut in your butter in your favorite way. I find it easiest just to use my fingers to squish the butter and flour together until I have a coarse mixture.
  3. Add in the buttermilk and use your scissors to cut in the green onion and parsley. Mix it all until it just starts to come together. Overmixing will make your biscuits tougher. I had to add another small drizzle of buttermilk to make it work.
  4. Turn your biscuits dough out onto a lightly floured surface and fold it together just a few times until it comes together and then pat it out until it's about an inch thick. Use your pizza roller to cut your dough into four sections then transfer your biscuits to a parchment lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until very lightly golden. Set your biscuits aside until they're ready for gravy action.
For the gravy
  1. Scissor the white part of your green onion into a large skillet and add your sausage. If you have links, remove the casing, obviously. Cook these together over medium high heat, crumbling the sausage as it cooks. Once your sausage is cooked through, remove the sausage and onion to a plate or bowl using tongs or a slotted spoon.
  2. Add your butter to your skillet and melt it. Once it stops foaming, sprinkle in the flour and whisk it together with the butter. Depending on how much grease your sausage left behind, you may need to another sprinkle of flour. You want the mixture to be pasty. Cook this mixture until it starts to smell nutty.
  3. Slowly whisk in your cream and milk in small installments whisking out any lumps before you add more. Eventually you'll have a creamy, dreamy mixture.
  4. Add your seasonings and fold your sausage and onions back into your gravy. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
  5. Split open your biscuits, scoop on a bunch of gravy, and go to town.
Adapted from Bev Cooks
Adapted from Bev Cooks
How to be Awesome on $20 a day https://awesomeon20.com/
Breakfast Nachos | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Breakfast Nachos

Renee Leave a comment

Breakfast Nachos | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Good morning, sunshine! I love you dearly. Let’s eat breakfast.

Breakfast nachos are the perfect platform for some Sunday brunch realness. Mix up a pitcher of outrageously spicy Bloody Marys. Have it all.

Breakfast Nachos | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

We’re gonna thinly slice some potatoes, season the, and roast them in a hot oven. We’re going to top it with tasty sausage, and some smooth and spicy cheese sauce. From there, you can throw on all your favorite nacho toppings. I like to keep it simple with sour cream and some chopped green onions. But I know and you know that we’re really just here for that runny egg. Make one for each person who’s getting in on this action.

Breakfast Nachos | How to be Awesome on $20 a Day

Breakfast is life. Make it nacho!

Breakfast Nachos
Serves 2
Layers of roasted potatoes, cheese, sausage, and fried egg make for a super awesome breakfast.
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  2. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  3. 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  4. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  5. Approximately 1 pound russet potatoes, thinly sliced (enough to cover a baking sheet)
  6. 1 tablespoon olive oil
  7. 8 ounces of your favorite sausage, casings removed
  8. 1 clove garlic, minced
  9. Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
  10. 1 tablespoon butter
  11. 1/2 tablespoon flour
  12. 1 cup milk
  13. 1 cup shredded white cheddar
  14. 2 eggs
  15. Toppings such as sour cream, salsa, chopped green onions
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 425 and line a baking sheet foil.
  2. In a small dish, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
  3. Arrange your potato slices in a single layer on your baking sheet. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle about half of your seasoning mix evenly over the potatoes. Bake the potatoes for about 30 minutes until soft and slightly crispy around the edges.
  4. In the meantime, heat a skillet over medium heat, and cook the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as you go. Once your sausage is cooked through. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for another two minutes or so, then remove the sausage to a paper towel lined plate.
  5. Put the pan back on the stove and turn the heat down to medium low. Melt the butter, then sprinkle in the flour and whisk to form a paste. If your sausage gave off a lot of fat, you may need to add a bit more flour until all the fat is absorbed. Keep whisking while adding in the milk a little bit at a time to make sure you don't get any lumps. Add the remaining seasoning mix and keep whisking until the sauce starts to bubble and becomes thick. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the cheese until smooth.
  6. Once all the elements are ready, grab a clean skillet and fry up your eggs just the way you like them.
  7. Arrange your potatoes on a plate or platter, scatter the sausage, then spoon the cheese sauce over your potatoes. Add whatever toppings you like, plus an egg for each person.
Adapted from Homemade Decadence by Joy Wilson
Adapted from Homemade Decadence by Joy Wilson
How to be Awesome on $20 a day https://awesomeon20.com/
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