Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Potato Bake

This recipe is the perfect addition to summer cook out. It can be prepared in the oven or prepared on the grill or smoker for added flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• 2 pounds Italian sausage links, cut into 2-inch pieces

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced

• 2 large green bell peppers, seeded and cut into wedges

• 2 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into wedges

• 3 large onions, cut into wedges

• ½ cup white wine

• ½ cup chicken stock

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

• Step 2

  Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir the sausage until browned. Transfer the cooked sausage to a large baking dish.

• Step 3

  Pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into the skillet, and cook the potatoes, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Place the potatoes into the baking dish, leaving some oil in the skillet.

• Step 4

  Cook and stir the green and red peppers and onions in the hot skillet until they are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetables to the baking dish.

• Step 5

  Pour wine and chicken stock over the vegetables and sausage, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Gently stir the sausage, potatoes, and vegetables together.

• Step 6

  Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Kale Soup

This kale soup will warm your insides, delight your taste buds, and fill your stomach on a cold winter night. It is full of dark green kale, potatoes, and cannellini beans.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 yellow onion, chopped

• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic

• 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped

• 8 cups water

• 6 white potatoes, peeled and cubed

• 2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans (drained if desired)

• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes

• 6 cubes vegetable bouillon (such as Knorr)

• 2 tablespoons dried parsley

• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat.

2. Cook onion and garlic until soft, 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Stir in kale and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.

4. Stir in water, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, vegetable bouillon, parsley, and Italian seasoning.

5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are cooked through, about 25 minutes.

6. Season with salt and pepper.

Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup

This potato soup cooks in an Instant Pot® and is customizable with assorted toppings. I prefer to get my saltiness from the bacon, so I don't add extra salt. I also like a thicker chowder-like consistency; if you like yours thinner, add more liquid.

• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 4 thick slices cherrywood-smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 2 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped

• 1 cup water

• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic base (such as Better Than Bouillon® Roasted Garlic Base)

• 1 ½ cups half-and-half

• ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

• ¼ cup sliced green onions

• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

  Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add onion, bacon, and butter to the hot pot and saute until bacon is crispy, 5 to 8 minutes. Turn off Saute function and transfer contents to a small bowl.

• Step 2

  Add potatoes, water, and garlic base to pot and close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 12 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.

• Step 3

  Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 15 minutes. Release remaining pressure carefully using the quick-release method, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Mash potatoes against the side of the pot, leaving some chunks if desired. Add onion-bacon mixture and half-and-half; stir to combine.

• Step 4

  Ladle into soup bowls and top with green onions, Cheddar cheese, and black pepper.

• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 4 thick slices cherrywood-smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 2 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped

• 1 cup water

• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic base (such as Better Than Bouillon® Roasted Garlic Base)

• 1 ½ cups half-and-half

• ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

• ¼ cup sliced green onions

• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

  Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add onion, bacon, and butter to the hot pot and saute until bacon is crispy, 5 to 8 minutes. Turn off Saute function and transfer contents to a small bowl.

• Step 2

  Add potatoes, water, and garlic base to pot and close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 12 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.

• Step 3

  Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 15 minutes. Release remaining pressure carefully using the quick-release method, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Mash potatoes against the side of the pot, leaving some chunks if desired. Add onion-bacon mixture and half-and-half; stir to combine.

• Step 4

  Ladle into soup bowls and top with green onions, Cheddar cheese, and black pepper.

Hungarian Potato and Sausage Soup

There’s nothing better than a hearty soup to chase away the chill of a cool autumn day. This soup is the perfect fall comfort food. The savory flavor from smoked sausage and the earthy sweetness from onions and cabbage are balanced perfectly with a splash of vinegar and a bit of sour cream, all brought together by soft and tender potatoes--the only way this gets better is serving it with a nice hunk of buttered, crusty bread.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 6 ounces smoked Hungarian sausage, sliced into rounds

• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

• 5 cups chicken broth, or more to taste

• 2 cups chopped green cabbage

• 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

• freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

• ½ cup sour cream, or to taste

• 2 tablespoons sliced green onion, or to taste (Optional)

Directions

• Step 1

  Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add sausage and cook and stir until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove sausage to a bowl, leaving behind any butter in the pot.

• Step 2

  Toss onion into the pot with 1 teaspoon salt. Cook and stir until onion just starts to turn translucent and picks up a brown color from the meat juices in the pan, 4 to 5 minutes. Add flour; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and paprika; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the paprika.

• Step 3

  Stir in 5 cups chicken broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally so flour does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Stir in cabbage and cook until it just loses its stiffness, about 2 minutes. Stir in potatoes and bring back to a simmer. Add black pepper, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf, plus a splash of chicken broth if desired. Bring back to a simmer.

• Step 4

  Stir soup and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are very soft and tender, about 30 minutes. Add sausage and vinegar and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust for salt.

• Step 5

  Remove from heat and ladle into bowls. Garnish with sour cream, green onions, and cayenne pepper.

Campfire Meal: Hobo's Delight

This recipe combines hamburgers with onions, baby carrots, and potatoes in individually cooked foil packets. It’s easy cleanup makes it the perfect meal for camping.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1 onion, sliced

• 1 (16 ounce) package baby carrots

• 4 potatoes, peeled and sliced

• seasoned salt to taste

• salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat grill for medium-high heat.

• Step 2

  Form the ground beef into individual patties, and place each patty on a piece of foil large enough to hold the patty and some vegetables. Layer each patty with onion slices, carrots, and potato slices. Season with seasoned salt, salt, and pepper to taste. Wrap foil around food, and seal each packet tightly.

• Step 3

  Grill 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Carefully open each packet (the steam that escapes will be very hot), and serve.

Aloo Gobi Masala (Cauliflower and Potato Curry)

This traditional Indian cauliflower and potato curry recipe uses a modern twist to speed up preparation time, making it a great choice for busy week days.

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets

• 3 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 2 tomatoes, diced

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon curry powder

Directions

• Step 1

  Place the cauliflower in a large, microwave-safe dish; cook in microwave on High for 3 minutes. Transfer the cauliflower to a bowl and set aside. Put the potatoes in the dish and cook in the microwave on High for 4 minutes. Pour into the bowl with the cauliflower.

• Step 2

  Heat the olive oil and cumin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the cumin swells and turns golden brown; stir the onions into the oil and cook about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook and stir another 3 minutes. Fold the cauliflower and potatoes into the mixture. Season with the curry powder and salt. Continue cooking until completely hot, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve hot.