I've been busting at the seams to share the news!  A few months ago Taste of Home  contacted me regarding an original recipe I submitted to their website.  They told me I was chosen for publication in their August/September edition!  Wait, what?!

{insert mini freak out that may or may not have included dancing around my house }.

They asked me to provide a picture of myself along with a small paragraph about the recipe.  I sent everything in and patiently (or not?) waited for the issue to come out.  You can imagine my excitement when I found this in my mailbox today!!!  Taste of Home, August/September edition, in stores now!

I tore through the magazine and found this on page 50!!!
I love everything about cooking.  The hunt for a new recipe, coming up with my own, preparing ingredients, cooking for others, talking about recipes or food in general, and of course eating!  To find out one of my recipes would be published is simply amazing.

In usual Things I Like format I will give you the breakdown.  I've made this a handful of times since coming up with it.  I love the spicy sausage and sweet roasted pepper combination.  I also like that this is oil-based and not saucy.  Here's what I learned:

  1. Taste of Home missed a key ingredient in the published version of the recipe...the extra virgin olive oil!  See below for correction.
  2. Recipe says 3 links of sausage but you really only need 2.
  3. I used roasted sweet pepper mix from Trader Joes.  It includes yellow and red peppers.
  4. I believe it serves 2-3 only.  Four servings as stated in the magazine is stretching it.
  5. You have to use grated Asiago cheese.  It makes the dish!


Turkey Sausage & Spinach Orecchiette
An original Things I Like Recipe

Printable Version

INGREDIENTS
Extra virgin olive oil (a generous pour to coat the pan well)
1/2 pound uncooked orecchiette or small pasta
2-3 hot Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup rinsed and drained white kidney or cannellini beans
1/4 cup chopped roasted sweet red pepper
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Additional shredded Asiago cheese, optional

DIRECTIONS

Cook orecchiette according to package directions.

In a large skillet, cook and stir the sausage, onion, garlic and pepper flakes in extra virgin olive oil over medium heat for 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Add the spinach, 1/2 cup Asiago cheese, Parmesan cheese, beans, peppers and Italian seasoning; cook just until spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally.

Drain pasta; add to sausage mixture and toss to combine. Sprinkle with additional Asiago cheese if desired.

 
 
_I found this recipe during a random search for dinner ideas.  Turned out to be an easy and delicious dinner!  Here's what I learned:

  1. Use at least a 1/2 cup of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.  Makes a gigantic difference.
  2. Don't overcook your broccoli like I did.  That's a game changer.
  3. I cooked the chicken with seasonings (garlic, Italian, crushed red pepper) in a skillet with a bit of EVVO and butter.
  4. Served it over fettuccine.
  5. Leftovers aren't as good as the sauce does separate.
_Recipe can be found here:  Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
 
 
_I liked it.  I know that doesn't sound very enthusiastic and/or convincing...  But really, it was good. Here's what I learned:

  1. Season it up!  It needs it.
  2. Makes a ton.
  3. If you like olives they would be a yummy addition.
  4. Leftovers were great!
  5. Half went in the freezer. Guinea pigs are eating it this weekend.  Hope it froze well!
_Recipe can be found here:  Baked Spaghetti
 
 
_My husband said "this is the best food ever".  Makes delicious leftovers too!  Here's what I learned:

  1. I add two spicy turkey sausage links.  Crumble the sausage over high heat and when it's almost finished cooking add the shallot/garlic/habanero.
  2. I use 1 tablespoon of flour.  You definitely don't need 2 tablespoons if you are using heavy cream.
  3. The 1 teaspoon of black pepper adds a lot of spice!  I cut back to 1/2 teaspoon.  But if you like spicy go for the full teaspoon.
  4. 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese is plenty!  And we like cheese!  It was way too thick and rich with a full cup.
  5. It's really hard finding cavatappi noodles!  We also like penne (mini penne pictured below) or bowtie with this.  Really any pasta will be great!
_Recipe can be found here but does not reflect my changes:  Habanero Pepper Cream Pasta
 
 
_This one is a keeper!  Here's what I learned:

1.  Half a recipe makes enough for 3-4 people.
2.  I used a shallot instead of onion.
3.  I used a jar of sauce instead of making it as stated in the recipe.
4.  Yum, yum, yum!

Once again couldn't get good pictures of this one...

_The recipe can be found here:  Cheese Stuffed Shells