Hearty skillet (Christmas) brunch and a sneaky kitty !

I thought I'd share a recipe that I really like --- "Skillet sausage and potatoes". I found it in the June 1996 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It's actually a recipe for camping and "cooking breakfast over the coals" in a big heavy skillet -- but since my camping experiences involved being forced into it out guilt from my little Cub Scouts to full fill some merit badge requirement -- the food thing was an afterthought -- as in "breakfast? .... oh ..... ummmm..... I think there might be some pretzels left in that bag ..... er .... go ask Brandon's mom for something to eat ......hmmmmmm......nevermind, get in the car and we'll go to McDonald's." Now it's not that I didn't enjoy camping --- it was kind of fun ...... I was just never fully prepared/organized like some of the other Cub Scout moms. (and my own scouting career ended after Brownies ..... failure to "fly up" to Girl Scouts. Oh well!)

ANYHOW .....this recipe is easily made in the comfort of your own kitchen using modern appliances (thank goodness!) For the past few years, I've made this for brunch on Christmas Day , and it's kind of become a tradition. My kids really like it, so I also occasionally make this for dinner.

Ingredients:
3 to 4 Tbsp olive oil or cooking oil
1 3/4 lb. unpeeled red-skinned potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (5 cups)
2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges and /or chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 lb fully cooked smoked turkey sausage, diagonally sliced 1/4 inch thick (I like to use "Lite" turkey kielbasa to keep it a little more low calorie)
2 Tbsp snipped fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
1 1/2 to 2 tsp cumin seed, slightly crushed
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Pour 3 tablespoons oil into skillet. Lift and tilt to cover bottom of skillet with oil. Place on stove (or directly over hot coals of campfire). Place potatoes and onion in skillet and cook , uncovered, over medium-high heat about 12 minutes or till potatoes are nearly tender, stirring occasionally.

Add sausage and 1 tablespoon of oil, if necessary, to prevent sticking. Cook, uncovered about 10 minutes or til potatoes and onions are tender and slightly brown, stirring often.

Stir in thyme, cumin seed, salt and pepper: cook and stir for 1 minute more. Makes 6 main - dish servings. (Wt watcher points = 6 points/serving -- at least the way I figured it out!)

Enjoy !!!! (.... and there's our goofy kitty Shadow (aka Birdly)sneaking NOT a piece of sausage --- but a GREEN BEAN !!!! and not just one green bean --- he went back for seconds !!!! The kids are thinking this is a wonderful development that Shadow likes green beans, because they DON'T -- and now their plan is to sneak Shadow their green beans under the table ....... but I'm on to them ! aHA !!)

Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)