I love Trader Joes!

Donald and I went to Trader Joes and picked up some awesome things this week.  Tonight I used some chicken sausage and pasta sauce to create dinner!

Spicey Chicken Sausage Pasta

1 pack of chicken sausage from Trader Joes, in spicy Italian, sliced into medallions

1 jar Trader Joe's Tomato Basil marinara sauce

Italian seasoning

Sweet basil

Garlic

Red pepper 

(all spices to taste, but I recommend making this one spicey)

Pasta noodles of your choice

1. Slice chicken sausage, brown in a pan in a little olive oil until slightly browned
2. Add pasta sauce and spices to taste
3. Simmer for 1h stirring occasionally (or, if you're like me, cook it in cast iron and go running, when you come back, its delicious)
4. Make pasta and serve!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pecan Muffins

Yeah yeah, long time no update.  Cooking has become a rarity in my house.  I always find that in the fall my life picks up.  Its like people get concerned that soon, it will be winter, so we better get the fun stuff out of the way.  Plus we have 48 days until the wedding, so things are nuts.

I made these muffins last weekend, and froze 1/2 of the batter so I could make the second half this weekend.  I used my KitchenAid Stand mixer, new calphalon measuring cups and spoons, and some silicon muffin baking pans (including one I got from a kno

ttie from a Something Blue Secret Santa exchange).  I love to bake.  

Ok, without further ado, nomily goodness:

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip and Pencan Muffins 

Ingredients:

• 1c sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 c oil
• 1c milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1c chocolate chips
• 1/2c chopped pecans
• 1c white flour
• 1/3c EACH of wheat, gluten, and millet flours

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt in a bowl, set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, mix together oil, milk, egg, and sugar until smooth.
4. Add dry mixture to wet mixture, stir until moist.
5. Add chocolate chips and pecans.
6. Fill baking cups 2/3 full with batter (I don't use muffin cups, instead I just grease the cups of the muffin pan and it works fine)
7. OPTIONAL: Combine 1/2c chopped pecans with 2tbsp brown sugar and sprikle on top of each batter cup for a topping
8. Bake 20-25 min or unti golden brown and firm

Serve warm or heated up in the microwave!

Enjoy!