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Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients

YOU NEED (FOR THE SAUSAGE, ONIONS AND BROCCOLI)

• 4 medium sized Italian-style chicken sausages (organic, free range if you can)
• 2 medium onions sliced
• 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1 large head broccoli finely chopped
• Olive oil
• Chopped parsley
• 3 cups of your favorite tomato sauce

YOU NEED (FOR THE GRITS)

• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup quick grits or polenta (not instant)
• 1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
• A few grinds of pepper
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (the sharper it is, the cheesier it will taste)

Chicken Sausage With Caramelized Onions, Broccoli & Cheesy Grits

In this recipe we stir up a pot of quick grits (not instant), top it with caramelized onions, crispy sausages, broccoli and a favorite tomato sauce, throw a little cheese into the mix, and even grandma will be happy to sit down at your table.

Submitted by:
Laurie David & Kirstin Uhrenholdt Laurie David is an environmentalist, author, and producer of the Academy Award–winning film An Inconvenient Truth. Kirstin Uhrenholdt grew up on a fruit-farm in Denmark, pickin’ n’ pruning and making pie. She then, ended up on a cargo ship to Greenland, doing a lot — more than you can imagine.

Visit original web site

MAKE IT

1. Bring the milk and water just to a boil in a large saucepan.
2. Slowly stream in the grits while whisking constantly.
3. Stir in the salt and turn down the heat to medium-low. Continue stirring, while humming cheerfully, until the grits thicken up, about 4 minutes.
4. Keep warm over very gentle heat.
5. Drizzle a large cast iron skillet with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and over medium heat saute the sausages until they are golden, then slice them thickly on the bias, or into small bite sized pieces. You can even leave them whole, whatever makes you happy. Put them aside.
6. Wipe out the pan, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, saute the onion until it is caramel colored and has little crispy edges, add the garlic and broccoli, saute until the broccoli is tender.
7. Fold the cheddar cheese into the grits (you can also add a goodly pat of butter here, but you did not hear that from me). You want the consistency of soft porridge, so if you need to thin them out a bit, add a little milk.
8. Taste the grits for seasonings. When they are tasty and don’t need a thing more, pour them onto your big white platter platter, top with the sausages and a mess of onions and broccoli.
9. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with your favorite tomato sauce on the side.
10. Call your family to the table.

CLEAN IT

As Laurie and Kirsten mention, organic/free-range chicken is the safest option for this recipe and reduces your exposure to undesirable contaminants. Learn more.

GREEN IT

Make sure to cover the pot of milk and water as you bring it to a boil. You’ll reduce your energy use and help protect the planet

MAKE IT FUN

Have kids set the table. If they’re too young to handle dishware, simply let them decorate the table. Maybe pick some wildflowers (or even dandelions) from the yard. Do they have some small toys that they think would make nice table decor? Let them use their imagination to set a whimsical table.