Sausage-Stuffed Squash

• 2 acorn squash
• 1 lb sausage
• 3 Tbsp coconut oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp sage
• 1 celery rib, 1/2 red onion, 2 cloves garlic
• 2 apples, chopped
• 1 egg beaten
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 2 sprigs rosemary

1. Pre heat oven to 400. Cut squash in half length wise and scoop out the seeds. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and sage to taste.

2. Use 1 Tbsp. of coconut oil. Brush or spoon coconut oil into each half of squash. Roast for 60 minutes.

3. While squash is roasting, melt remaining 2 Tbsp. coconut oil in a pan over medium heat and brown the sausage. Remove sausage from pan and let cool in a mixing bowl. Leave the fat in the pan.

4. Finely dice the onion, celery and garlic and saute over medium heat for a few minutes– until they are softened. Add some salt and pepper. Then add the chopped apples and saute for a couple more minutes.

5. Remove from heat and add to the mixing bowl with the sausage. Allow to cool.

6. When sausage and vegetable mixture are cool enough to handle, add egg and almond or flax meal. Chop rosemary finely and add as well. Mix with your hands (I’m sure I don’t need to tell you to wash them first, right?) until well combined.

7. After an hour, remove squash from the oven. Divide the stuffing among the 4 halves– the stuffing should be mounded– and bake for another 20 minutes.

8. To avoid scorching the roof of your mouth… like I did… you should be patient and let it cool for a bit before you stuff it into your mouth eat it! Enjoy.

Sausage and Bean Casserole

12 slices white sandwich bread

2 pounds smoked Polish sausage, halved lenghtwise and cut in pieces

2 large onions, chopped

8 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup tomato paste

14.5 oz chicken broth

1 cup dry red wine

1 tsp dried thyme

4 cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

In a food processor, pulse bread until large crumbs form, season with salt and pepper, set aside.

Preheat oven to 375*F. In a 6-quart saucepan, cook sausage, onion and garlic stirring occasionally until onions are translucent and sausage is starting to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Add tomato paste, broth, wine thyme and 2 cups water, bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, add beans. Simmer, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened but still soupy, about 10 minutes.

Stir in 2 cups of breadcrumbs. Divide sausage mixture between two 3-quart shallow baking dishes. Top with remaining breadcrumbs.

Bake on a baking sheet until top is golden, about 30 minutes.