Home Fries Animal-style

My fellow environmentalist Erin "Animal" Crowdus made these for me and Katy "K-Ro" Rowe for brunch on a rare Saturday off some years ago (they were so good, I can't quite remember what else we had on that sunny afternoon). You can use oil instead of butter, but the flavor won't be the same.

Ingredients

1 large idaho potato
1 Tbsp butter, preferably salted
salt
black pepper
garlic powder

(optional:)
smoked paprika
cayenne
chili powder

Instructions

Chop the potato into tiny 1/2 inch cubes. Gently toss on a paper towel to remove excess moisture, and season in a bowl. The trick is to go overboard here with the pepper; if you're using freshly ground make sure it's a fine grind; you want each piece fully covered in seasonings. Heat a large nonstick pan on medium high heat, swirl in the butter, and add the potatoes. Cook for ~15 minutes, flipping a few times to ensure each side is browned. If you have a lid that fits, cover it for at least five minutes while cooking to reduce cooking time.

Maple Nutmeg Sugar Cookies

Recipe from Smitten Kitchen!


http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/12/nutmeg-maple-butter-cookies/

Grit Cakes with Chipotle Field Roast Sausage

Ingredients

1/3 C heavy cream
2/3 C water
2 Tbsp instant grits
1/4 C cheddar cheese, grated
S&P
1 link Chipotle Field Roast
Olive oil for sauteing

Instructions

Make the grits according to package instructions, cooking them in the cream and water. Add salt, pepper, and cheddar. Spread the grits in a 1/4 inch layer in a glass baking dish and allow to set in the fridge for at least two hours. Once set, use a small glass or biscuit cutter to carefully cut out small circles, and saute them over medium low heat in a nonstick pan with a little olive oil (you want to get a nice browning on both sides). The longer you allow the grits to set -- you can do this overnight -- the less delicate they will be while handling.

Remove the field roast link from the casing and break it into small crumbles. Saute for 5-10 minutes with a small bit of oil over medium low heat until it crisps up.

Serve the grit cakes topped with sauteed sausage.

If you can't find the field roast vegan sausage, try Tofurkey's italian links.
http://fieldroast.com/product/field-roast-sausages/
http://www.tofurky.com/what-we-make/sausages/italian/

Plum Balsamic Reduction

Ingredients

1 plum, chopped
1 Tbsp balsamic
Salt
Curry powder
White pepper
Ginger

Instructions

Heat all ingredients in a sauce pan, seasoning to taste. Stir frequently, cooking for 15-20 minutes. Once cooled, blend in a small food processor or with an immersion blender. Great served drizzled over goat cheese on crackers.