Week of 9/27/1999

Pan Seared Sausage with Sweet and Sour Onions
Any variety of gourmet chicken or turkey sausages will work in this recipe.

1 (12 oz) package chicken-apple sausage
1 1/2 cups (2-inch) julienne-cut carrot
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
11/2 cups apple juice
2 Tbls. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. fennel seeds, crushed
1/4 tsp. each salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper
Mashed potatoes

Heat a large skillet over medium-hi heat until hot. Add sausage; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove sausage from pan; keep warm.

Add carrot and onion to pan; saute 5 minutes. Remove carrot mixture from pan with a slotted spoon and keep warm. Add apple juice and next 5 ingredients to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently to deglaze pan. Return sausage and carrot mixture to pan; cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Serve over mashed potatoes. Serves 4.

Potato Gnocchi With Spinach and Yellow Squash

1 (1 lb.) package of vacuum-packed potato gnocchi
1 Tbls. olive oil
1 yellow squash, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1 (10 oz.) package fresh spinach, torn
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded smoked Gouda cheese or grated sharp provolone

Cook gnocchi in boiling water according to package directions. While gnocchi cooks, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add squash; saute 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add garlic; saute 1 minute. Add spinach; cover and cook 2 minutes or just until spinach wilts. Reduce heat to low; stir in milk, pepper and salt. Add gnocchi and cheese; stir gently. Serve immediately. Serves 4 one-cup servings.

Artichoke-Spinach Pizza

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 (l-lb.) Italian cheese-flavored pizza crust (such as Boboli)
1 (14 oz.) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
2/3 cup(2 1/2 oz.) grated sharp provolone or shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir in spinach. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread spinach mixture over pizza crust, leaving a 1/2 inch border; top with artichokes and cheese.

Bake for 13 minutes or until cheese melts. Serves 8 slices.