I tried to come up with a menu of meals this week that would keep our guests happy so that they don’t go home on Saturday starving to death. I figure if I send them home wasting away, Stace probably won’t let them stay with me again.
Last night we did breakfast for dinner, which is always a win among kids. I made waffles and sausage. First of all - this is the first time I’ve used my waffle maker in about 5 years and I kinda forgot about the Growth Factor of waffle batter and the first one was so thick it essentially forced the waffle iron open as it grew. Then I tipped the waffle iron over at one point and got batter all over the counter. I needed two bowls for batter because I got behind and panicked and ended up with more batter on the counter and floor than on the waffle iron itself. It was the biggest mess ever made in any kitchen in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
And can I tell you that last night was the first time I’ve ever cooked sausage links? I wasn’t even sure how to tell when they were done, I just waited until the were black all over. Probably too long? And the whole reason I bought the links was because I couldn’t find patties anywhere. Where are the damn sausage patties? Are you supposed to buy those weird tubes of sausage meat and cut the patties yourself? And most importantly - how have I been a mother for 12 years and still not know these basic kitchen lessons? Because I’m inept. Evidently.
Of course the kids (and the husband) loved the entire meal. We all made ourselves sick on waffles and syrup ate an illegal amount of sausage. And MrZ even cleaned up the war zone that was the kitchen after the meal. Of course, it helped that the dogs spent mealtime in the kitchen cleaning up the floor. I mean, why should I only strive for “inept” when I can achieve “disgusting” as well?
links are impossible to cook! that’s why we eat bacon. lots and lots of bacon
That sounds like a good approach to cooking sausage links. When I cook them, I cut them in half lengthwise before cooking. That way you kind of get an idea for how they are cooking in the middle.
Oh, and: how is NikkiZ coping with the girls’ departure?
Okay, bake everyone a big potato, cut them in half, melt a little velveeta on each one and set up a whole bunch of stuff to top it with, you know like ham, mushrooms, sausage links. Easy, everyone likes cheese and there’s no syrup involved.
Hey that’s why we have dogs!
It’s not disgusting it’s the circle of clean-up, I mean that’s how I think of it…
I can cook almost ANYTHING and I can’t cook sausage links!!! They’re evil, I tell you! People say to cook them in a bit of water - then they come out NASTY!!!
Good dinners for a large crew?! HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE! Cook noodles, chop up Velveeta, throw them all into a casserole dish, let it bake for a bit and voila! CHEESY GOODNESS….
OR…
HOMEMADE FRENCH BREAD PIZZA!!
Listen carefully. I am Scottish and I am about to let you into the secret of cooking as passed down to me by my granny. It works particularly well for sausages. Ready?
When it’s brown it’s done, when it’s black it’s b*ggered.
You’re welcome.
Dude, you can’t cut patties off of sausage tubes like you can with cookie dough - believe me, I’ve tried. It was a spectacular event - one that pretty much covered every inch of my kitchen in raw sausage meat. May I suggest the pre-cooked sausage links that you just toss in your microwave? That will give you all the glory without all the effort.
Um yes you ARE supposed to buy the tubs of sausage and cut them yourself. Don’t worry… it’s not hard.
Well, that sounds like the perfect dinner to me. Or breakfast. Or lunch.
Sausage is good always.
I always bake my sausage links…and have Mr. M. tell me if they’re done. Hes also responsible for all pancake like endeavors (we don’t have a waffle iron) and I’m a pretty darn fine cook - just have no patience for things that have to be minded & turned like that. I even bake grilled cheese sammiches.
It may be my lazy streak showing
Jimmy Dean makes frozen sausage patties that are great. I keep them in the freezer all the time. If you HAVE to do links, then just buy the microwavable kind. Save yourself the headache (and possibly smoke alarm batteries).
1) Sausage link cooking: use a George Foreman grill. Done on both sides super fast - in under 6 minutes. No grease.
2) Cutting sausage patties. Freeze the sausage tube. When ready to cook sausage patties, put the tube in the microwave on half strength for 1 minute, MAYBE 2 if your micro sux. then it is JUST soft enough to cut with a serrated knife but still cold enough to hold its shape. Cook like normal, they’ll defrost the rest of the wy while they cook Refreeze the tube in plastic wrap or a ziploc.
3) Or, your meat counter should be able to make you sausage patties. Ask for them when you go in to the store then go back and grab them on the way to the register, last.
That is one of the best part of having dogs! They are the best vacuums/mops ever.
pssst - Zoot - have you heard of this TV show and book: http://www.amazon.com/Boil-Water-Food-Network-Kitchens/dp/0696226863? Sounds like just what you need (I won’t mention how *I* know about it)
p.s. breakfast for dinner is excellent! That’s why I learned how to make spaghetti carbonara. It’s basically bacon, onion and eggs mixed with spaghetti. A real crowd pleaser around here.
I put sausage in a baking dish in the oven until they’re golden brown. Way less mess!
You mean people have dogs for reasons other than to clean up food scraps off the floor??!! How on earth do these people survive in households with toddlers?? It took my dogs about 2 seconds to realize that when one of the kids went into the highchair they were pretty much guaranteed a snack!!
wait, that’s not what pets are for?