Kielbasa & Corn Hash

I found this unusual recipe on allrecipes.com and gave it a try. It's fantastic!! This is a great way to use up veggies.

Kielbasa & Corn Hash

20 oz. potatoes, peeled and diced
14 oz. package smoked turkey sausage (about 90 calories/serving)
1 cup of pepper and onion stir-fry blend (frozen)
1 can corn, drained
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
salt & pepper, to taste
4 eggs, cooked over-easy, to top the hash with

In a large skillet sprayed with cooking spray, cook potatoes and kielbasa until potatoes are nearly tender, about 10 minutes (add a little water if they start to stick).  Add the frozen pepper mix and corn. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes more. Portion out hash and top with an egg.

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Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup

My aunt gave me this recipe, and it called for Italian sausage. I made it more figure friendly by making my own Italian sausage with lean ground turkey. Now, you can find the turkey Italian sausage at the grocery store and use it instead, but I like to make my own.

For the SAUSAGE:
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 Tbsp. fennel seed, ground
3/4 Tbsp. sweet paprika
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

For the SOUP:
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can white beans
1 can tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
1 tsp. dried basil
2 cups tortellini
parmesan cheese (optional, for topping)

Combine all ingredients for Italian sausage. Brown sausage with onion and garlic in a soup pot. Add the tomatoes, broth, and basil and bring to a boil. Add the beans and tortellini, and cook until tortellini is cooked through.

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Pasta e Fagioli

This soup is amazing! It takes on the flavor of the smoked sausage, and it's very hearty. My husband is crazy for this soup.

Pasta e Fagioli

1 onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 package Healthy Ones smoked sausage, chopped into small pieces (there are a lot of smoked turkey sausages available now, so any brand will do--the package will have roughly 90 calories per serving, 7 servings per package).
4 cups beef broth
1 can crushed tomatoes
4 oz. uncooked pasta (ditalini is our favorite)
1 can red beans, drained and rinsed

In a soup pot over medium-high heat, cook onion, carrots, and garlic with cooking spray until vegetables are soft. Add the sausage and cook until it starts to get a little golden brown crust. Add the broth and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and beans, and simmer until the pasta is tender, about 12-15 minutes. Serve with grated parmesan cheese.  Makes 4 (generous) servings.

 If you rinse the beans well, the sodium won't be as high as it shows.

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