Oh happy day.......

......when Penzey's had a store come my way.........

It's official, Penzey's is up and running in Carytown. (3400 W. Cary St.) I managed to poke my head in this last Saturday. I love that I don't have to pay shipping any more! :) Penzey's also has a lot of great gift ideas--spice sets for the griller, first time home owner, different ethnic cuisines etc.

I happened to pick up this Italian Sausage Seasoning for the first time. And as expected, it really packs a gustatory punch! I added it to my basic meat sauce with chicken and now I feel like I don't ever have to buy turkey Italian sausage premade at the store ever again. Yay, Penzey's! :)

You could just throw this in the sauce or put a tbsp in with a pound of meat and let it sit for a few hours to overnite to really absorb and intensify the flavor.

They also suggest on the label that you can add it to burgers to make "Pizza Burgers" - how yummy does that sound? :) Ok, so here's what I threw it in today:

Basic Meat Sauce with Chicken

1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
olive oil
Penzey's Italian Sausage Seasoning
1/2 c. fresh chopped basil
1 lb. ground chicken
1 28 oz can crushed plum tomatos
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 c. chicken stock (or broth will do)

Sweat onions and garlic in olive oil over low-medium heat. Add 2 tspns sausage seasoning and let it "toast" for a minute or two. Throw in meat and crank heat to medium, toss in 1 tbsp sausage seasoning. Cook meat until chicken is no longer pink. Add tomato sauce & paste as well as the chopped basil and chicken stock. (remember to boil your stock before adding to the sauce). Let simmer on low with the lid on for 1/2 an hour to a few hours- whatever your schedule dictates.

Enjoy! :)