I have to think that January and February are my least favorite months of the year. It’s days like today that I think back to our days in the summer of me and Tony hanging out under our gazebo with a couple beers watching the Sox game. Spring cannot get here soon enough (and I think the White Sox are going to have a great year!)
And it’s days like today that I am so happy I don’t work in downtown Chicago anymore! The last law firm I worked at was on north Michigan Avenue, almost to Water Tower. So when I left my house at 7 to catch the 7:15 train, I would get into the train station at 8:25, then it was a good 25 minute walk from the train station to my office! Brrr!! Although, in the nicer months, I did enjoy taking the water taxi to Michigan Avenue – it was like planes, trains and automobiles just to get to my desk!
Do you get Cuisine at Home? I’ve never subscribed to it, but every once in a while I get a free copy. They had a recipe for chicken apple breakfast sausage that looked really good. Although I changed it up quite a bit with what I had on hand, and of course left off the onions! 😀
Chicken Apple Sausage (printer friendly version here)
Course: main meals
PointsPlus™ Value: 3
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
12 oz uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 medium apple(s), cut into quarters and seeds removed
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp caraway seeds
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or Cajun seasoning like I used)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp olive oil, (for pan frying)
Instructions
Toss all ingredients (except olive oil) in a food processor.
Pulse until just combined. I weighed this mixture, and it came in at exactly 16 ounces, so I measured out 4 ounce patties.
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat, and cook until each side is browned, about 4 minutes per side.
Serve with a fried egg on top and fresh fruit.
![1.19.11 024](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/1-19-11-024.jpg)
![1.19.11 026](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/1-19-11-026.jpg)
These make pretty big patties:
![1.20.11 002](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/1-20-11-002.jpg)
I am submitting this to Christina’s Friday Firsts. 😀
I don’t know if it was all the protein or what, but this kept me full for hours! I had a work obligation at lunch time and wasn’t sure I would be able to work out. I usually don’t like to eat before working out, and I thought it may be too late, but I was fine. I walked for 45 minutes (still got a stuffy nose!) and didn’t end up eating my lunch until 2:30!
One serving of my Buffalo Chicken Chili with a serving of tortilla chips (which I have to remember are 4 points, not 3!): 10 Points Plus.
And since I had 51 points yesterday, and I had to make sure I paid attention to my points today. Dinner was 4 ounces of grilled chicken over a bed of mixed greens with a tablespoon of light balsamic dressing – 5 Points (+7 points for wine during the evening).
- 33 points, 1 flex point remains and 11 activity points earned (you don’t earn very many just walking!)
- 45 minute walk, 2.8 miles
- average blood sugar 113
And now onto the winner of the variety pack case of Chobani!
True Random Number Generator 106 2
The winner is . . .
Lucky you! I love Chobani, especially straight up with granola. Hope you are felling better today!
I used to think if I was first or second on a giveaway, I never had a chance to win – congrats to Jacky who was the second commenter out of 106! 😀 Send me your mailing address at mybizzykitchen@gmail.com and I’ll forward it onto Chobani.
Have a great Friday and Weekend! And thanks for all your well wishes about Tony’s medical results – we’ll hear back either today or Monday at the latest – keep your positive vibes coming our way!
p.s. Can you stop by my brother Charlie’s blog and leave him a Happy Birthday message? His birthday is tomorrow – HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!
Your weather is insane. Hunker down! Stay inside! I’m cold just seeing that -4 on the computer screen!!!
I have the ingredients to make your Buffalo chicken chili (except for the fresh veggies) – I swear, I’m really going to make it soon. Every time you post a picture of it I start drooling like Homer Simpson.
Still sending good thoughts your and Tony’s way.
Boy, I’m sure thankful that it’s not negative anything around here. It’s 45 and rainy over here in Western Washington.
I’ve always loved chicken apple sausage. Pretty cool to know that it’s easy to make at home!
TGIF!!!!! Have a great weekend!
I wouldn’t want to work in downtown Chicago, either…unless I lived down there, which I probably wouldn’t enjoy too much either. OP is the best of both worlds, I think…a really close burb with all the city-like living! But I’m probably biased 🙂
The breakfast sausages sound wonderful! I could do the patties, but doing anything with casings would just freak me out!
Have a great weekend, Biz! Oh, and GO CUBS!!!!!!!!!
Nicole, I am going to pretend I didn’t see the CUBS reference! And the winner of my Chobani is from Oak Park! She also went to OPRF and I played field hockey with her older sister! 😀
Go get the Neti!!!! Seriously, you will be unstuffed in no time 🙂
YUM to the sausage!
wow how decadent is your food!?? yum yum yum. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE
That crappy Arctic cold is coming my way. Do me a favor, would ya, and keep it in Chi-Town!
Have a great weekend my friend.
You made your own sausage? How cool is that?! And the chili at lunch looks amazing (although I’m not sure my belly could hold off until 2:30 ;)). Congrats to the chobani winner! What a fabulous prize. Enjoy your weekend too
Those patties look absolutely delicious!!
It was ONE degree here this morning. 🙁 I think Mother Nature has it out for us or something???! Crazy when a high of 25 seems warm, huh???? C’mon, spring!
Oh that apple sausage looks good! I’m saving that one! Thanks!
Happy birthday to your brother! The sausages look amazing!
Biz we use to live in Davenport Iowa and we would go to Chicago a couple times a year and I loved shopping at the Water Tower Plaza! That was quite the commute for you.
I don’t miss the cold and snow of the Midwest! I am going to try those sausages, what a good points value for a pretty good size patty.
YUMM, i never really think of sausage in the AM but that chicken-apple combo sounds goood 😀 I visited my cuz last Feb in Chicago- oomggg…it was SO fun going down Michigan Ave.but I was frozen haha. Best wishes to the fam- glad u had a good day in spite of yesterday! 😀
Those sausages look fantastic! I would never have thought to make my own sausage, but I bet it’s so much better for you than store-bought!
Oh my, that is COLD!! We have been lucky to be in the 30’s around here. Don’t ya hate that walking only gives you like 1 point per 10 minutes, when jogging, swimming, or biking is more!
Okay I WILL make that chili someday. And the sausage looks delicious – very healthy!
Great job on the WW. I seem to alternate between 34 and 40 points a day. I can never make it under that.
Hey, where’s your review of the sausages! They look and sound good, but what did you think? Guess what we’re having for dinner tonight. Your chicken tikka masala! I’m so excited! I’ve been wanting to make it for MONTHS! I’m so happy I finally remembered to put it on the meal plan b4 we went grocery shopping. I left Charlie and message. 🙂
oh ya, its friggin COLD here too today…and snowy. So done with winter…so done. lol
There is a recipe for chicken sausage in a taste of home book I have that in the back of my mind, I have been wanting to try. I have never made sausage before.
Congrats to your winner! 🙂
Oh yea, so excited I won! Typo and all.
Days like today I am so glad I have the option to work at home, commuting downtown in this weather is brutal. I get Cuisine at Home, the kids like to pick out recipes from it to have me make. That sausage caught my eye, I like your version.
Stay warm!
I will def. be trying this! It looks so good, and would be super easy to reheat once I get to work. Thanks for the recipe!