Zucchini Noodles and Sausage

This week we came upon some zucchini in the clearance area of Quality Greens. 5 big ones for $1.49. So, I started thinking....how can I use this zucchini in a yummy way. It feels like we have eaten quite enough potatoes, rice and pasta lately. I wanted something different. Then I remembered, zucchini noodles! My friend, Heather, had blogged it quite awhile back, so I decided to make my own variation of it. I got out my handy dandy mandolin, which I must say my husband hates me using! He worries I will slip and injury myself. It's quite a lovely tool, but does need to be handled carefully!
Zucchini Noodles and Sausage
2 large zucchinis (cut into noodles)
1 package of sausage of your choice
1 Pepper, whatever color you have, cut up fine
1/2 onion chopped fine
1 clove garlic crushed
1/2 a pint of grape tomatoes cut in halves
spices of your choice, I used Cajun and Greek(club house)
sprinkling of Parmesan cheese
 Put the onion and garlic in the frying pan with a small amount of butter. Season. Fry until soft and remove. Cook up the sausage with a bit of water. Remove and cut them up small. Add sausage back to pan with the peppers. Add in zucchini and put on the lid and cook for a few minutes. Add grapes tomatoes and cook to warm. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese and serve.  You can change it up with whatever you think would be yummy. Leave out the meat and it's vegetarian! It's such a refreshing meal!

I've got lots of sick people....I mean noodles

We seem to be smack dab in cold season at our house. One by one, week by week, a new person has caught this awful cold. Both the kids have had it, now our home stay has it.......that only leaves hubby and I. So, today I pulled out the handy daddy home remedy, chicken soup. I have learned from our dear house guest that pe-tsai(a Chinese cabbage) makes a lovely addition to our soup! But, I am getting ahead of myself. First, I must give credit where credit is due. I was blessed to have an aunt and uncle let me live with them in my senor year of high school. My aunt made the most fantastic soup, and from her I learned to make easy, quick scratch soups!

Yummy Chicken Noodle Soup

To start you can use your leftover chicken(or turkey) carcass. Put in in lots of water, bring to a boil and then let simmer as long as you can. If you don't have a chicken carcass(I like to have chicken noodle soup shortly after roasting a chicken, when I menu plan)you can take two boneless skinless chicken breast and put it in the water. At this point I add some onion, chopped and some minced garlic(garlic is a food group at our house and I like to buy the big minced garlic at Costco). I learned years later that my other auntie was amazed that I wasn't adding star anise, which she believes makes the soup! So, I always add a few stars! Then I generously salt and pepper it and let it simmer. About an hour later, I toss in spaghetti noddles, that I have broken up. Today, there was broccoli hanging around so it went in the pot, but it can be celery, or frozen corn, whatever you fancy! Next, I cut up some Chinese cabbage and some cilantro(I just love cilantro). Throw it all in and then test in 10 minutes to see if the noodles are soft. Taste for saltiness and viola! Homemade cold(I mean cough cough) comfort food!