Low and slow

The holiday season is upon us. And in the hustle and bustle of it all, the last thing you may want to do at the end of your day is cook dinner. I feel that way in particular on the weekends, which are always chock full activities. At the end of the day I just want to sit, not make dinner, even if it only takes 30 minutes.

So I break out the crock pot and cook it low and slow.

It's wonderful. I dump all the ingredients into my crock pot and come 5 o'clock, presto! Dinner is served! Perfect for those busy weekends of shopping, decorating, and visiting Santa.

Sausage & Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
  
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  
• 1 1/4 lb. Italian sausage
  
• 2 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  
• 1 large zucchini, halved lengthwise, cut into 1-inch half moons
  
• 1 medium-sized onion, cut into wedges
  
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
  
• grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Add tomatoes and juice to crock pot. Stir in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper.
   
2. Tuck in sausages. Add potatoes, zucchini, and onion. Cover. Cook on HIGH heat for 4 hours or LOW heat for 8 hours.
   
3. Uncover pot and remove sausages. Slice into 1-inch thick coins, and return to crock pot, stirring gently along with bread crumbs.
   
4. Serve in bowls, sprinkling each serving with Parmesan cheese.