$10 Dinners: Grandma Sue's Famous Sausage Stew

These meals are intended to be a relatively simple and healthy weeknight meal for a family of four. We assume that these dinners are being made in a kitchen stocked with regular kitchen staples. We will not include prices of oil, sugar, flour, spices, etc. unless you need a 1/4 cup or more. Regional food prices may vary and can be reduced by smart shopping techniques.

This is a quick and easy weeknight meal that my whole family likes. It is inspired by a recipe of my mother's.

Shopping List

Staples

• Olive Oil (Any cooking oil or butter could be used too)
• Worchestershire Sauce
• Italian Seasoning
• Dried Thyme
• Salt and Pepper

Directions

Slice kielbasa into coins and brown in large saucepan or dutch oven over medium heat. While this is browning, put 1 to 2 cups water in bottom of a saucepan with steamer basket (water should just touch top of basket), start heating on high. While the water is heating, cut up potatoes (peeled or unpeeled) and carrots (if necessary) into bite sized pieces and place in pan. Cook covered about 15 minutes or until veggies are softened.

Chop onion and mince or press garlic. When the kielbasa is browned, remove from pan and add enough oil to equal about 1 Tbps (this may be unnecessary if you used regular kielbasa). Saute onions and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes. Add water and scrape bottom of pan to release browned bits. The potatoes and carrots are usually ready to go at this time.

Dump steamed veggies and the steaming liquid into saucepan with onions, etc. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Allow to thicken slightly then add kielbasa, 1 to 2 dashes of Worchestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp. thyme and Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper. Reduce heat, cover and allow to "stew" for as long as you need, at least 10 minutes. I usually serve it with a crusty bread that I heat up at this time. If there is any left, it makes a great work lunch the next day. Start to finish, this shouldn't take more than a half an hour.

Tips:

• Any other veggies you may have on hand could be added into this simple stew. You could use green beans, celery, sweet potatoes or pumpkin. Mushrooms are particularly good (saute with onions).
• Any broth or a red wine can be substituted for the deglazing liquid. Broth could also be used to steam the veggies for extra flavor.
• If you would like to cook this for longer, you could add uncooked carrots and potatoes and simmer for approximately 1 hour. You could even put it all in a crockpot, just cook the kielbasa and onions and deglaze the pan for the best flavor.
• As this is a basic quick stew recipe, you could substitute any other meat. Pork would be very tasty. If you are using leftover cooked meat, just add it in where the cooked kielbasa is added. You may want to adjust the spices for different meats.