Italian Sausage Sandwiches

Menu
Sliced Heirloom Tomatoes with Basil
Fresh Pluots with Mint
Strawberries and Blueberries
Italian Sausage Sandwiches
Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

We had a nice casual dinner with my in-laws tonight and we had Stella as our entertainment.  I could just sit and watch her play all day long. Her facial expressions are priceless.  I just wish I knew what she was trying to say as she babbles all day long.

We received a ton of fresh fruit today so I thought I would serve some with dinner.  I just plated some sliced pluots with a little chopped mint on one small plate and some sliced strawberries and blueberries on another.

We also received a nice ripe heirloom tomato. I simply sliced it, added a little salt and pepper and sprinkled it with a little chopped fresh basil.

Italian Sausage Sandwiches

My husband picked up 5 nice size mild Italian sausages from Lemon Tree Grocer; they make all of their own  sausage.  Typically I use their homemade giardiniera and mozzarella sausage for this recipe but they were sold out.

In a dutch oven, heat about 1 tablespoon of olive and 2 minced garlic cloves.  Add the sausage and brown on each side.  Once the sausage is browned, add a splash of dry red wine to deglaze the bottom of the pan and lift all of the browned bits.  Remove the sausage temporarily onto a plate.  Add slices of one green bell pepper, one red bell pepper and a half of cubanelle pepper. I also used a medium red onion cut into small chunks.  Let the onions and peppers cook for a few minutes.

Then add a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, stir well and add back in the Italian sausage links. Place the top on the dutch oven and cook on a medium-low heat.  Stir occasionally.  Let cook for approximately 20 minutes.  Heat up a grill pan on the stove top (or fire up the grill), place the sausage links on the grill just long enough to brown up the outside. Return to the dutch oven until you are ready to serve. To plate place a sausage link on a sausage bun with a little of the pepper and onion mixture on top.

Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Boil red potatoes until ready (you want to make sure they stay whole because you will be slicing them), drain and run under cool water.  Slice the potatoes with about 1/4 inch thick slices.  In a separate bowl make a vinaigrette by whisking together 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons of stone ground mustard, approximately 3 tablespoons of good olive oil and the juice and a half of lemon.  Season with salt and pepper and a little thyme.  Mix well.  Cover the potatoes with the vinaigrette.  Top the potato salad with chopped chives and fresh parsley.  Place in fridge to cool.

This meal was rated 3.5 asparagus spears