One of my favorite features of my apartment is my kitchen. Let me tell you…the kitchen is the thing that pushed me over the hill. Originally when I saw the listing for the apartment, I was on the fence about it. But I got a showing and I was desperate so I came reluctantly. Boy! When they say God will not let you miss what is yours…it is my kitchen. It is beautiful. It is spacious. When I made the leek and corn risotto for my friend F. the other day, I had a moment of gratitude. I looked at her sitting on the other side of the granite countertop, and I said a quick prayer of thanks to God.
I don’t think it needs to be said that this year has been crazy. We are all living it day-to-day at the moment. For those among us, who are lucky enough to have safe shelter, we are indoors. We wait, patiently on some days, for time to pass and dull out the might that is Coronavirus. It has become a long wait. Amidst all of the turmoil and anxiety, food has become an emotional coping tool. Making this vegan magical mushroom paste is one of the things that brought me so much joy.
A few years ago, I went primarily plant-based for a few weeks. At that time, I was constantly looking for new food options. Mujadara is a plant-based options that has remained a favorite of mine. What is there not love about rice that is cooked with onions and spices? The other thing I always loved about this dish is the blend of lentils and rice. I sometimes feel guilty about eating white rice but the addition of the lentils boosts the nutritional profile. A few months ago, I put together a version of mujadara that features one of my favorite spices, chipotle pepper.
It is always surprising to me that I still have a sense of Monday as the beginning of the week. I have spent most of my career working an unconventional schedule. This means I work during the weekend. My days off are usually during the week. So, Monday for me is really just another day of the week. However, I still find myself in the Monday Blues needing something easy to get me going. This Turkey Kielbasa stir-fry has become the thing.
I love sausages. Always have, always will. But my relationship with any sausage is complicated because I don’t eat pork or its derivative. Almost all sausage products are encased in a pork casing, even when the filling is not pork based. This makes it hard for me to get sausages because I find myself reading ingredients fine print. Luckily I have been able to find a few brands that use collagen casing.
The thing I like about the Turkey Kielbasa from Hillshire Farms is the seasoning. The sausage has a balanced blend of herbs and spices. I don’t have to worry about seasoning the foods I put it in. This makes it a perfect backbone for a quick meal on a lazy night.
The other thing I should tell you about this turkey kielbasa stir fry is that it is not finicky. There is no order of business other than getting the sausage into a hot pan along with the vegetables. Everything just needs to heated thoroughly because the turkey kielbasa is already cooked.
I have served this with my favorite mashed white beans again. I feel like it is time for me to write a recipe for this mashed white beans because it is so easy and goes so well with everything. Anyway, I hope this turkey kielbasa stir fry brings some joy to blow the Monday blues away.
Turkey Kielbasa Stir-fry
Sinmi
A super speedy recipe for an easy Monday meal featuring turkey kielbasa and vegetables.
