Mama never made pork and beans like this! Use any combination of summer vegetables you like.

Above: A bounty from the Farmer’s Market.

Not Your Mama’s Pork & Beans

1 lb pasta, such as cavatappi
3/4 lb ground Italian sausage, casings removed
3/4 lb yellow wax or green beans, ends trimmed and halved
2 small bell peppers, cut into thin strips
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh basil, optional

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving a small amount of pasta water (about 1 cup), toss with olive oil, set aside and keep warm.

Meanwhile, use a large skillet over high heat to brown sausage, crumbling with a wooden spoon. Add pepper strips and saute 3 minutes. Add beans and saute 3 minutes, adding olive oil if pan is too dry. Add tomatoes, seasoning with salt and pepper, and saute until softened, about 2-3 minutes.

Combine pasta and vegetable mixture in a large pot or bowl. If using, add basil. Add reserved pasta water as needed, enough to keep mixture moist. Season with additional salt or pepper if needed. Serve immediately.

Looking for something to warm you up on a cold winter day? Try this pasta dish with an easy tomato sauce. I selected red bell peppers both for presentation and flavor. Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are all similar in flavor and referred to as “sweet” bell peppers, which is a nice contrast for the spice in this recipe. Green bell peppers have a slightly stronger, more bitter taste. Of all the colors, red peppers have the highest amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Beta Carotene. Feel free to substitute which ever color or color combination  you prefer.

There are two options for adding heat to this recipe. The first is to use hot Italian sausages. The second is to use sweet Italian sausage or regular bulk sausage then add red pepper flakes to taste (from 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp, depending on your palate). The recipe below is shown using the hot Italian sausage. For the vinegar in this recipe, I used a flavored shallot vinegar, but nearly any variety will do: white wine, red wine, balsamic, or even apple cider in a pinch.

Spicy Sausage & Peppers Pasta

1 box (16 oz) short shaped pasta, such as penne
3/4 lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into strips
1 pkg (8 oz) sliced mini bella mushrooms
1 yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
Olive oil
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
1 can (15 oz) low-sodium tomato sauce

In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water, and return to pot. Toss pasta with olive oil, set aside and keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and break apart with a wooden spoon. Add mushrooms and a small amount of olive oil. Saute for 5 minutes, then add diced onion. Season with salt and pepper, then saute 3 minutes. Add red bell pepper and garlic (if using sweet or mild sausage, add red pepper flakes at this point). Saute 3-5 minutes, until peppers are crisp-tender. Add vinegar, oregano, and tomato sauce. Bring mixture to a boil and remove from heat.

Add sausage mixture to pasta and toss. If mixture is too dry, add pasta water a little at a time until sauce is desired consistency. Serve immediately.

Stuffed eggplant sounds pretty sophisticated, but it is actually quite easy to do and not as labor intensive as you might think. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare stuffed eggplant (along with some ideas for the filling). Bits and pieces of the information below have already been posted on various other recipes, but I’ve condensed all the information so it is all in one place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, when selecting an eggplant, look for one with smooth skin that is a deep purple color. Avoid bruises or dents, and select an eggplant that feels heavy for it’s size (this indicates ripeness). Try not to buy an eggplant over 1 or 1.25 pounds, as heavier eggplants are usually bitter. Eggplant is mostly in season from about June to September, though some gourmet stores may still import good varieties this time of year. The best bet for eggplant slightly past its prime is to peel, cut into chunks, salt the flesh (more on that below), and saute with other seasonal vegetables or bake with tomato sauce.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, start by cutting the eggplant in half lengthwise. The stem and cap are not edible, but you can leave on for presentation. The leaves can also be peeled back to reveal more edible flesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, use a small paring knife to score the flesh. Start with diagonal slashes all in the same direction, slicing as deep as possible without piercing the skin. Keep the cuts about 1/2 inch apart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then slice in the opposite direction, creating a cross-hatch pattern. Try to connect the corners as much as possible, leaving complete squares cut out. Then run the paring knife about the edge of the eggplant, leaving less than 1/4 inch of flesh next to the skin. Again, be careful not to pierce the skin, but cut deep enough to loosen the flesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh. The pieces should pop out rather easily, following the cross-hatch pattern. You may need to scoop out additional seeds at the bottom of the eggplant, if so discard. The seeds are edible but rather bitter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chop any connected flesh into 1/2 inch cubes. Place the eggplant flesh in a colander and sprinkle with salt. This will draw any bitterness to the surface of the eggplant. Let set for about 15-20 minutes, then rinse and gently pat dry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the eggplant is ready, prepare the “stuffing.” Here is an easy recipe:

Stuffed Italian Eggplant

Olive oil
2 eggplants, about 1 lb each
1/2 lb bulk Italian sausage
1 pkg (8 oz) mushrooms, sliced
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
Sea salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp dried oregano
1 can (15 oz) low-sodium tomato sauce
2 tbsp red wine or apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and brush with olive oil. Arrange the hollowed out eggplant halves in a single layer on the baking sheet.

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add sausage, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, and cook 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and bell pepper to pan. Saute 3-5 minutes, until pepper begins to soften. Add onions and garlic, sprinkle with salt and saute until onions are softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add oregano and red pepper flakes and toss.

Add to pan (prepared as described in above instructions). Stir in tomato sauce and red vinegar. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer  for 5-7 minutes, until sauce is thick. Remove from heat and let set for 5 minutes.

Fill the hollowed out eggplant halves with tomato mixture. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over each stuffed eggplant. Bake 15-20 minutes, until top is lightly browned and bubbly. Drizzle the top of the eggplants with olive oil if it looks like it is beginning to dry out. Use a large spatula or serving spoon to transfer stuffed eggplants to plate.

Leftover “stuffing” can also be tossed with cooked pasta. To make for six, use prepare three eggplant and add 2 cups cooked pasta after tomato sauce is added and brought to a boil. To make vegetarian, omit the Italian sausage and add mushrooms (saute with the onions).

This is actually a combination of two recipes from Real Simple magazine, along with my own personal twist. Ratatouille is usually thought of as a summer dish, given the use of produce such as eggplant, bell pepper, tomatoes, zucchini and summer squash. It also works well as an end-of-the-season dish, when the last of the summer produce arrives at the grocery store or farmer’s markets. For the past two weeks, my local grocery store has had the biggest, most beautiful zucchini, so I wanted to seize what it probably my last chance of the season to enjoy them!

Ratatouille is traditionally a meatless dish, comprised of vegetables and fresh herbs. One of the Real Simple recipes combined this dish with Italian sausage, which is a favorite in our house. It seemed like a winning combination, so I created this recipe for some dinner guests and received rave reviews. To complete the meal, I served this over warm egg noodles tossed with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of fresh basil.

Tip: Cut the eggplant first and place in a colander. Sprinkle with salt and allow to set while you prepare the rest of the vegetables. Rinse  and pat dry before adding to saute. This will remove most of the bitter flavor and improve the texture of the eggplant (prevents it from getting overly soggy and mushy).

Look for eggplants that heavy for their size. This indicates ripeness and also improves the texture and flavor of the dish.

Ratatouille w/ Italian Sausages
adapted from Real Simple

4 Italian sausages, 1 lb, halved if desired
Olive oil
Sea salt
1 sweet yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large eggplant, about 1 lb, cubed
1 large zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 can (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes, do not drain
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
Cracked black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400F and coat a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large skillet, heat about 1 tbsp olive oil. Brown sausages on both sides, about 3 minutes per side (sausages do not need to be cooked through). Arrange in a single layer in prepared baking dish and set aside.

In the same skillet, add onion and garlic. Sprinkle with sea salt and saute 2-3 minutes. Add eggplant, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. If pan begins to dry out, add a little more olive oil. Saute 3 minutes and add zucchini and bell pepper. Saute an additional 3 minutes, then add tomatoes with liquid and chicken stock. Bring liquid to a boil and stir in chopped basil. Season to taste with black pepper.

Pour vegetable mixture over sausages in prepared baking dish. Turn sausages to coat (if desired, cut sausage in half). Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, until sausages are cooked through. Remove from oven and allow to set for 10 minutes before serving.

As the dish cooks, the vegetables should start to release liqiud and create a sauce in the pan. If the pan dries out, though, just add a little more chicken stock.

As soon as I saw this recipe, I knew James would love it. The rustic, hearty flavors have a slightly southern flair, given the recipe came from Southern Living magazine. Of course, I made a few alterations to the recipe (the original version had dried plums, which just did not sound good!) and the results were a big hit. The biggest substitution was using kielbasa instead of Italian sausage, which worked out really well in the dish.

The main issue I had with the original recipe was that it used pre-packaged measurements in the ingredient list (ex: 1/2 of a 20 oz  package of bite-sized dried plums), which means you have to actually buy the package or put forth your best guess on the amounts. Given the economy, many people are buying in bulk and using simple measurements such as “1 cup” or “1/2 cup” would lend itself better to the recipes usability.

Kielbasa & Peppers w/ Couscous
adapted from Southern Living

1 cup couscous
1 cup golden or regular raisins
1 lb kielbasa, sliced 1/2 inch thick
2 tbsp olive oil
2 sweet bell peppers (red, orange, or yellow) thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Sea salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 Granny Smith apple, diced
1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp orange juice
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
Cracked black pepper

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in couscous and 1/4 tsp sea salt. Cover and let set for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in raisins.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Over medium-high heat, saute bell peppers, onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes with 1/4 tsp sea salt for 3-5 minutes, until tender. Add kielbasa to pan and saute until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Add additional olive oil to pan if needed. Add diced apples and an additional 1/4 tsp of sea salt and saute 2-3 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together chicken broth with orange juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, and 1/2 tsp sea salt. Add to skillet and bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat and cover, simmering for 2 minutes or until liquid has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and toss all ingredients. Season to taste with cracked black pepper.

Serve kielbasa and peppers over a bed of couscous. Spoon additional sauce from the pan over top.