I swear to God, you'll see this dish at every Italian buffet. Let's make it magic!
Ah, Sausage and Peppers.
The recipe I got from my mom was actually a recipe she got from my paternal grandmother. Mom was born in Jesenice, Slovenia and grew up in Germany; they didn't really eat stuff like this where she was, out there in Frankfurt. But when she came to Rhode Island, which was bursting with Portuguese and Italian immigrants, their families, and of course, their cuisine, she not only tried things she never had before (like eggplant parmesan), but learned a few new recipes herself, like Sausage and Peppers.
You'll find this recipe all over the place: at weddings, bridal or baby shower brunches, or any other events. It's an easy dish to make in bulk, a flavor profile pretty much anyone who knows Italian food will enjoy, and you can customize it a bit depending on what kind of sausage you want to use. I personally recommend hot chorizo (which will take you closer to a Portuguese bend), but if you aren't into spicy stuff as much, then sweet Italian sausage will do you just as good, and it'll still be a great weeknight dish!
And magic-wise, the spices that go into Sausage and Peppers are a twist different than your typical spaghetti sauce: namely with the use of nutmeg and curry powder, which, like Italian seasoning, is a blend of different things. According to my bottle of curry powder (the Great Value organic version you can find in Walmart), you can find fenugreek, coriander, mustard, ginger, turmeric, cloves, allspice, cardamom, anise seed, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne within it. It's almost hard to believe, but right there at your fingertips is literally a huge bundle of incredibly powerful herbs and spices!
It's also here that we might note: just because a spice blend has all these things in it, doesn't mean you have to recruit the powers of every single one! Surely the ones you don't call on will still work hard for you in some way (namely in that flavor), but when I decide how to customize my dishes, I always aim for three to five items. And when you have this many items, that means you can potentially make a totally differently charged pot each time!
So how do we want to charm this dish today? Personally, I'm thinking a prosperity blend: using the fenugreek, clove, basil, and cumin to attract wealth (and protect it from jealousy & theft).
(Oh, and a tip: ginger boosts the power of any item you're using in your spells!)
Magic in Sausage & Peppers
With these four ingredients, fenugreek, clove, basil, and cumin, you've got a powerful combination: money and wealth (fenugreek, clove, basil), of course, but also protection and anti-theft qualities (clove, basil, and specifically anti-theft with cumin). It's just as important, naturally, to protect what you gain as it is to gain it in the first place!
The energies of Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury come together here, along with air and fire, to not only help you attract luck, but to put you into the zone to identify wealth-bringing opportunities and give you the energy to chase them down. Jupiter, the planet of luck and abundance brought on by Clove,, and Mars, the planet of ambition and sexuality brought on with Basil and Cumin, both come through with the energy of fire, which is the element of creativity and passion and drive represented by the suit of Wands in tarot. Likewise, the planet Mercury, of communication, intellect, transportation, and memory as brought on by Fenugreek, sits with the energy of air, which is the element of communication and intellect represented by the suit of Swords in tarot.
All this combined is powerful. You have the vision, the power, the drive, the burning fire, to do and get what you want—and you have the organizational skill, the intellect, and the communication with your partners in your projects to achieve it.
That is the foundation of not only wealth, but a great and thriving empire. To think all of that, you can invoke in a pot of dinner? To think you can call on these talented little spices and herbs, and the energies that they're associated with, to protect and draw in this kind of glorious success?
Such is the power of kitchen witchery. ♪
Sausage and Peppers
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 60 minutes
Makes 4-6 Servings
Ingredients:
6 Links | Sausage of your choice |
1 28oz Can | Crushed Tomatoes |
1 Cube | Beef Bouillon |
1 Large | Onion, diced |
3-4 Cloves | Garlic, minced |
1 Can | Tomato Paste |
2 Large | Bell Peppers, sliced |
1/2 Tbsp | Curry Powder |
1 Tsp | Nutmeg |
3 Large | Bay Leaves |
To Taste | Salt & Pepper |
1 Tbsp | Oregano, Marjoram |
1/2 Tbsp | Basil |
(Optional) | Chipotle or Crushed Red Pepper to taste |
Directions:
If using raw sausage like Italian, cook halfway through in a pan or toaster oven so they're easier to slice.
Saute onions until golden brown. Meanwhile, prep your peppers and garlic.
Add garlic and optional crushed red pepper, then fry until fragrant.
Add all your tomato sauce/paste, seasonings, and peppers, and let simmer on low heat, covered, for 15 minutes.
When the sausages are cooked enough to cut, slice them into medallions and add to the sauce, then let it all simmer on low, covered, for an hour.
NOTE: If it's still too watery after 30min, crack the lid on the pot to let steam escape!
Serve with your choice of rice, boiled potatoes, or fresh bread!
This is a killer weeknight meal, and if you're gunning for a promotion, looking to get the courage to launch a new business venture, or just looking to attract more wealth into your home, it's the meal that'll give you the support and boost you need to make that happen. Be bold! Be creative!
And celebrate yourself with a bowl of good food like this. ♪
Comments