4(!) Successful Recipes We Tried Over the Holidays!

Zesty Fiesta Sausage Dip

1 lb. bulk sausage
1 c. chopped onion
Brown sausage with onion in lg. skillet.

1-16 oz. jar yellow banana peppers, drained, seeded, and finely chopped
3 pickled jalapeno peppers, seeded & finely chopped (about ¼ c.)
Stir into sausage mixture in skillet. Cover & cook 1 ½ min.
Reduce heat to medium.

16 oz. softened cream cheese
3 c. chopped tomato
Stir in; cook, uncovered, til heated through, about 5 min.
[Dump into Crock Pot at this point, to keep warm.]

½ c. sweet red pepper, finely chopped
¼ c. chopped cilantro
¼ c. sliced green onion
Fold in just before serving.






Beanless Chicken Chili
(by Leanne Ely)
Serves: 6

2 T olive oil
Heat in Dutch oven.

1 lg. onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 jalapenos, seeded, de-ribbed, and minced
Saute 3 min. in hot oil.

4 cloves garlic, pressed
2 t. cumin
2 t. ground coriander (opt.)
½ t. cayenne pepper
salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste
Add to veggies in pan; sauté 2 min. more.

1-28 oz. can diced tomatoes, un-drained
1 can corn, drained (opt.)
1 can white beans, drained (opt.)
Stir in; simmer 20 min.

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked, chopped/torn to 1” pieces
Stir in; heat through.

¼ c. fresh cilantro, chopped (opt.)
Juice of one lime
Stir in just before serving

Grated Cheddar cheese
Sour cream dollops
Additional diced jalapeno
Use, as desired, to top each serving.

Serve with: Tortilla chips &/or cornmeal muffins, and a big green salad






Zuppa Toscana/Tuscan Potato Soup
(like the appetizer soup from The Olive Garden(!!); this recipe via Tammy Sparks!)
Serves: 8

1 pound sweet Italian sausage/bulk sausage
Brown in Dutch oven; set aside, reserving grease.

6 strips bacon
Fry; set aside.

1 small onion, diced
Sauté in grease left from browning sausage.

2 large cloves garlic, diced
Add to onion; sauté.

5-6 c. chicken broth
4 medium sized potatoes, skin ON, sliced to 1/3” (Opt: Add more to make it go farther.)
1 c. finely chopped kale
Italian seasoning
chicken base
pinch of red pepper flakes
Add to pot; simmer 20 min.
Gently stir in sausage and bacon; heat through.
[Dump into Crock Pot to keep warm, if desired.]

1/2 c. cream or half-and-half
Stir in just before serving; do not boil.

4 c. shredded fresh kale
Submerge some kale in each serving, to wilt.

Shredded Parmesan cheese (opt.)
Top each serving.






And, to top it off, a new punch recipe we tried, following Hostetter family tradition. :)


Sparkling Fruit Punch

At least one day before, prep:
1 ice ring [I'd never done this before; I used a jello mold!]
24 frozen seedless red and green grapes


½ c. orange juice
½ c. grapefruit juice
2 cans Sprite (opt. Sprite Zero)
2 bottles sparkling white grape juice cocktail
Combine in punch bowl.

1 orange, thinly sliced
Add with ice ring and grapes.