Kale, Quinoa & Sausage Supper

Is it just me, or is naming our 10-inch-snow-dumping-storms a new thing?

After some chatter at work yesterday about an impending snow downpour*, I did what any halfway optimistic corporate American would do. I logged onto weather.com and was smacked in the face with warnings about “Winter Storm Saturn.”

So many questions. “Saturn”? First of all, awesome. Secondly, huh? Where did that come from??

*I’ll admit. Despite living in Chicago for close to 3 years, I still get a sliver of hope that 10 inches of snow might equal a snow day. It’s only happened once in my time here and let me know tell you, it takes an act of God to shut this place down. 

Saturn or not, I know that, with any luck, Mother Nature’s only got a couple weeks more of the cold stuff before we get some sunny relief (I’m talkin’ 50 degrees, y’all.) After all, temps spiked up over 70 at my Bachelorette Party last year!

Though I’m excited about the change of seasons (trust), I also intend to squeeze my last few warm, comforting meals out one last time before I pack them up with all of my winter gear until next time around.

This one’s a favorite, and I actually can’t believe I haven’t shared it before. Toasty, hearty, full of leafy greens and ready with just one pot. Are you for real? It’s a Winter Storm Saturn miracle!

{serves 4 – barely adapted from this recipe from Whole Foods}

1 yellow onion, diced
1 TBSP coconut oil (or grass fed butter)
2 TBSP dried sage
1 12 oz package Applegate chicken sausage (I used the “hot” variety)
1 C. quinoa, uncooked
1 C. hard cider (I used Original Sin, but let’s be honest, I don’t discriminate)
3/4 C. water
2 C. kale, chopped
loosely packed handful torn spinach for each bowl (optional)

After dicing up your onion, heat your biggest pot over medium-high heat. Melt oil, then add onion & sage. Saute for a few minutes, until mildly fragrant.

Meanwhile, cut sausage into 1/2 inch pieces. Add to pot and mix well, heating through until sausage becomes slightly browned.

Add quinoa, cider & water. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits.

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, 25-30 minutes. Add kale. Cover once more, away from heat, 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add handfuls of spinach to each large bowl or plate – get your greens people, springtime is here!

Give the pot a nice stir, then top your bed of spinach & get in on this.

• Are you expecting winter weather where you are? Any snow day hopefuls out there?!

 

 

Posted on March 5, 2013 by admin
This entry was posted in recipes and tagged kale, one pot supper, quick meals, quinoa, recipes, saturn, snow, storm, weekday meals. Bookmark the permalink.