Polenta Soup

Hard to believe that the Dog Days of Summer are long-gone, my 2 nieces and many other kids/teens in the area have already gone back to school. Those 100+ High Heat & Humidity Days seem like a distant Memory, for the last week we have been experiencing record cold temps for this time of year during the Day & Night. I do not mean we are getting Winter Cold temps during the month of August, but Daytime Highs of 66 and 72 are not the norm at all for August, last week it went down to 49 at night and other suburbs into the low 50's at night. That is weather we might typically get in late September or October. The cool weather was my motivation for soups and other one pot meals in my favorite Dutch Oven.

1 Five Quart Dutch Oven
1 TBSP Canola Oil or a Combo or Canola With Olive Oil
1 Diced Onion
1 Package of Isernios Italian Chicken Sausage or other Brand that is Ground and not in a Casing
http://isernio.com/Products/ChickenSausageRolls.aspx
One 18 Ounce Package Pre-Cooked Ready Made Polenta Cut Into Cubes
This one is from the Cost Plus World Market Store, It is not Available Online Though
http://www.worldmarket.com/search.do?query=polenta
You could also use Jaxson Cornmeal Mush Which is the Same thing as Ready Made Polenta from Cost Plus
I used this in some recipes of mine from 2011, here is the link to one of them with the PIC as Well
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0iG_M2qlz_A/TZZqBVhIaMI/AAAAAAAACnI/XOEGRzSLDbc/s1600/DSCF1376.JPG&imgrefurl=http://mycontinuingthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/05/quick-sofritas-with-chili-guacamole.html&h=1200&w=1600&sz=221&tbnid=gd82BmFA-jotoM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=123&zoom=1&usg=__aqrWrs7JM4zfIqVTkKwO-RIaKxQ=&docid=XXtF3SbXL5cQ5M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DtUzUKW1KeSMyQGmzYHgAw&sqi=2&ved=0CFAQ9QEwCA&dur=658
Also you could contact the Dik Jaxon Products Company

Dik Jaxon Products Company

• (937) 890-7350

6195 Webster St, Dayton, OH 45414

4 Cups Very Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1 16 Oz Package of Frozen Chopped Okra
1 -2 TBSP Minced Garlic
If you prefer you can saute the garlic, onion, & sausage in a skillet with oil or you do that in the Dutch Oven.
I prefer to just one pan for recipes.

Add Oil to Dutch Oven, Heat on Medium
Add in Oil, Sausage, & Garlic & Cook
Drain Oil, Leave in Food
Add in Broth, Polenta, Okra
Cover and Cook for 30-45 Minutes

Okra Chili

For those of you who have not been reading my blog the last few years OKRA is one of my favorite vegetables and I make as many recipes as I can think of with OKRA.


1 5 Quart Dutch Oven
1 TBSP Canola Oil
I Package Isernio's Italian Chicken Sausage Cooked
1 Diced Onion
16 Ounces Chopped Okra Steamed
1 14.5 Ounce Can No Salt Added Petite Diced Tomatoes or Dice & Seed Fresh Ones
1 14.5 Ounces Can No Salt Added Pinto Beans or Soak and Cook Your Own Dried Ones
8 Ounces Steamed Brown Rice
1/4-1/2 Cup Very Low Sodium Chicken Broth
Add Ground Cumin & Coriander If You Prefer It Spicier, However The Sausage is Already Seasoned

Heat Oil on Medium in Your Dutch Oven
Add in Sausage & Onion And Brown
Remove Dutch Oven From Cooktop & Drain Excess Oil
Add in Everything Else to Dutch Oven
Turn Burner to Low, Cover Dutch Oven and Simmer for 30-45 Minutes

Chicken Sausage Tomato Rice Bean Soup

Not sure if the old wive's tale is true that on a Hot Day if you eat or drink something Hot you will cool of quicker? So far, for me during this extremely hot & humid summer in Illinois it has really worked out well. I find myself craving soups & salads on a daily basis. Ultimately, this is so much healthier then my neighbors who are grilling or barbecuing hot dogs, sausages, bratwurst's & burgers every day or night. This has also helped me to lose some weight as well, so this is a bonus.

1 5 Quart Dutch Oven
1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Package Isernio's Italian Chicken Sausage
http://www.isernio.com/Products/ChickenSausageRolls.aspx
1 32 Ounce Box Very Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1 14.5 Ounce Can No Salt Added Petite Diced Tomatoes or Crush Your Own Fresh Ones
1 14.5 Ounce Can No Salted Added Pinto Beans or Soak & Cook Your Own Dried Ones
8-16 Ounces Steamed Brown Rice
12 Ounced Steamed Frozen Peas
1/4 TSP or less of  Sea Salt

Heat Oil in Dutch Oven on Medium
Cook Sausage Breaking Up in Pieces with Spoon or Potato Masher
Add In Broth
Add in Tomatoes, Beans, Rice, Peas & Salt
Cover & Simmer on Low for 25-30 Minutes

Italian Chicken Sausage Chili

1 Twelve Inch Skillet
1 TSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Package Isernio's Italian Chicken Sausage or other brand
http://www.target.com/p/isernio-s-italian-chicken-sausage-roll-16oz/-/A-13220958?ref=tgt_adv_XSC10001&AFID=shopping_df&LNM=|13220958&CPNG=kitchen&ci_src=13736960&ci_sku=13220958&
14.5 Ounces Petite No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes in a BPA Free Can or the Brand Eden in a Glass Jar
http://www.edenfoods.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=23_41&products_id=104865
10 Ounces of Dried Pinto Beans that have been soaked & cooked or in a BPA Free Can No Salt Added

Heat 1 TSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Medium High Heat
Add in Sausage And Cook Until Done
Add in Tomatoes & Beans And Cook For a Few Minutes To Blend Flavors
No Need for Seasonings As The Sausage is Seasoned