Beer-Braised Sausages with Warm Potato Salad

Of course I modified the recipe a little: I used brats, omitted the onion, and added garlic and cannellini beans. I also added grain mustard to the salad dressing. And I didn't have any parsley. Why would I? But yeah, pretty awesome meal.

 From Martha.

Waffled Hash Browns...

Kinda just waffle shaped hash browns...oh well. Still good.

Quick and Hearty Beef & Barley Vegetable Soup

Pretty basic recipe, from the back of the barley box. Why did I even have barley in the first place? I don't know, but big 'cleaning out my cupboards' kick right now, so I thought I'd use it up. Anyway, I subbed tomato juice for one cup of water, because I used a fresh tomato not canned, and added some Worcestershire sauce because...I like Worcestershire sauce. And now I have lunch for like, a hundred days. Good stuff. This is the recipe, modified to me.

Quick 'n Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup
1/2 lb. Lean ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups water
1 cup tomato juice
1 14.5oz can unsalted whole tomatoes, undrained, cut into pieces
3/4 quick barley
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup sliced carrots
2 beef bouillon cubes
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Salt, pepper

In Dutch oven, brown meat. Add garlic. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Crispy Fried Polenta with Salsa

Black bean & corn salsa, an egg & some Greek-yogurt 'sour cream'. It surely can't be the *most* unhealthy breakfast....