Showing posts with label maple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maple. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Sweet Apple and Maple Chicken Sausage with Homemade Applesauce and Salad




Tonight I used the inspiration of the season as well as ingredients I had at home. The result was a deliciously seasonable meal my husband and I both enjoyed!

I started by making the applesauce. I cored, sliced, and peeled 5 apples (smaller apples – I used McIntosh). I placed them in a saucepot with a small amount of water (maybe ¼ cup). I cooked them over medium heat, adding cinnamon and nutmeg to the pot . Once boiling, I began to stir and mash the apples with a fork. After a few minutes (when it “looked” right, you could also taste), I removed from heat, transferred to a bowl, and stuck in the freezer to chill. Had I had more time, I would have chilled in the fridge.

I then placed the sausage on the grill. I used Trader Joe’s Sweet Apple and Pure Maple Syrup Chicken Sausages. I grilled them for about 10-12 minutes.

For the salad, I combined the following ingredients:

Salad:
Spring mix greens
Toasted walnuts
Turkey bacon
Golden raisins
Gorgonzola or cheddar cheese (I used both, I like gorgonzola, my husband does not)

Vinaigrette:
Apple cider vinegar
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Drop or 2 of pure maple syrup

I combined the ingredients for the dressing and poured into bottom of bowl, followed by the greens. I tossed to coat the leaves with the dressing. I then added the toasted walnuts, raisins, and crumbled turkey bacon. I tossed again, and topped with the cheese.

This was a tasty meal, I loved the way each part of the meal worked with the others, the flavors were really married in this dish. I also loved the zip the gorgonzola gave to the salad, a nice contrast to the sweetness.

(Yes, I realize it doesn't look that appealing and that the sausage looks like hot dogs!)