Lemon Ginger Salmon for Sheet Pan or Sous Vide + Vacuvita Giveaway

This post and giveaway is sponsored by Hamilton Beach, however all opinions, editorial content and enthusiasm remain my own.

Creating fast, fresh, fit and filling meals for my family, which includes my hubby along with two growing teenage boys and one hungry young adult man, is my daily goal. And, one of my huge take-aways from years of being a competitive athlete is that you need a realistic, actionable plan and the right tools and gear to achieve any goal – because there will be a lot of obstacles trying to keep you from the finish line (or in this case, dinner table).Vacuvita Freezer Friendly Lemon Ginger Salmon

That’s where my Vacuvita®  comes in. It’s an amazing, multi-function countertop kitchen appliance that makes being the house “kitchen manager” of my so much easier. Vacuvita works on the simple fact that when oxygen is removed from food, it can stay fresh up to five times longer!  Read on to learn all the cool things Vacuvita does, get my recipe for Freezer-Friendly Lemon Ginger Salmon, and enter to win your own Vacuvita Home Base Set ($299 ARV) Continue reading

Cocoa Chai Spiced Nuts {Paleo} for Holiday Gifts

I’m nuts about the holiday season – absolutely, positively, literally nuts! Pecans, cashews, almonds, pistachios, macadamia and more, it’s hard to name a favorite. Only chocolate rivals my passion for nuts, and this year, I’ve come up with an exotically-spiced nut recipe that incorporates my love for these two – Paleo Cocoa Chai Spiced Nuts.Cocoa Chai Spiced Nuts are an easy, yummy gift made with cocoa powder, date sugar and assorted raw nuts like pecans, cashews and almonds.

A jar full of Paleo Cocoa Chai Spiced Nuts makes an edible gift that most everyone (with good taste) will appreciate. Plus, the smell of roasting nuts is guaranteed to draw a crowd, so make a couple batches because you may just end up with an impromptu holiday party on your hands!  Read on to get this paleo diet friendly recipe that is fun, fit and frugal to give as a gift: Continue reading

Make Ahead Italian Ground Beef for Meal Prep

Lean ground beef is an excellent source of meal-prep protein, packed with ZIP (zinc, iron and protein) and only about 150-ish calories for a cooked 3 ounces serving (4 ounce uncooked). My master recipe for Make Ahead Italian Ground Beef is easy to make, economical, ultra-versatile and freezes/defrosts beautifully rendering it ideal for freezer meals, meal prepping and make-ahead solutions. Make Ahead Italian Ground Beef for Meal Prep

Time and time again, I’ve used these deliciously seasoned beef crumbles in wholesome, hearty recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The recipe is basic, but the way it can be used in dishes is limited only to your imagination. Read on to get all the details and get a juicy, meaty jump start on your daily protein needs. Continue reading

How To Grill Avocados (That Don’t Turn Brown for Meal Prepping)!

I have a “how to” today that might make even the most super freak avocado aficionado faint – GRILLED AVOCADOS! Grilled Avocado

AvocadOoooohemmmmgeee, you heard me right! It’s amazing simple and insanely appetizing to throw avocados on the grates of a backyard grill, range top grill, or even portable grill. Grilling this creamy, savory fruit gives it delicious bits of flame-kissed char and smoky swag that you just won’t find eating it in the typical fashion. Read on to get all the directions to this game-changing  avocado hack and find out why they take days (instead of minutes) to turn brown using this method.  Continue reading

Sheet Pan Maple Beef Sausage – Breakfast Win for Holiday Crowd

Sheet Pan Maple Beef Breakfast Sausage

The care and feeding of house guests over the holidays can be stressful. As a clutter bug and mama of three messy boys, I can almost guarantee that you’ll never see the disaster that lies outside the frames of my blog and Instagram photos. But my in-person family and friends will, err, notice, so I’ll usually cancel a run or trip to the gym to get the house tidy — and that can feel like quite a workout in itself! And, while I love to cook, I’m used to feeding 4 or 5 at a time– not 15 people plus! Cooking bacon or sausage for an army in the morning is one of my pet peeves. It’s messy, time-consuming and I’m usually stuck in the kitchen and missing out on all the Christmas morning fun around the tree! Sheet Pan Maple Beef Sausage uses lean ground beef, real maple syrup and just the right spices to make a quick, easy and mess free breakfast or brunch option that will feed a crowd.To solve this breakfast prep problem, I came up with Sheet Pan Maple Beef Sausage – I was super excited to share it with my breakfast-obsessed friends at BeefLovingTexan.com It’s basically one HUGE sausage patty cooked all at once in the oven – no flipping, splattering or batch cooking. Plus, my always-starving teen boys and teen nephews can’t come by to “sample” it all away before serving time! When ready to serve, simply slice into bars or wedges, it couldn’t be any easier!

Everyone who eats my sheet pan sausage always raves and mentions how much better homemade sausage tastes – they are always pleasantly surprise to discover it’s made with lean beef – not fattier pork. The secret to making lean ground beef taste like breakfast sausage is all in the spices and flavorings. This beef sausage uses ingredients like paprika, cayenne and real maple syrup for a mildly spicy-sweet flavor.

So, should you feel guilty about indulging in this sausage for a holiday brunch or even “brinner”? NO! There are 24 servings per batch, with each piece containing approximately 100 calories and 12 grams of protein.  In addition to protein, lean beef is also a great source of iron, zinc and other essential nutrients. For optimal protein intake (25 – 30 grams per meal) have a couple slices, or pair a slice with an egg scramble.

sheet-pan-maple-beef-sausage-egg-biscuit

Prefer a breakfast sandwich?  After sausage is cooked, use a biscuit cutter to make a round shape and use a halved buttermilk biscuit to bookend!  The leftover bits from cutting circles can be crumbled up to use in soups, quesadillas, salads and more.

Do you have a traditional dish for breakfast or brunch? Are you a sausage or bacon person? Are you tidy or messy, a hoarder or minimalist when it comes to keeping house? Please share in the comments – XOXO, Jennifer 

Sheet Pan Maple Beef Sausage
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
Feed your hungry holiday crowd a special breakfast or brunch -- this easy beef sausage bakes in the oven and is low mess, low stress and very delicious!
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 servings
Ingredients
  • 3 pounds 90%/10% ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried sage
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon all spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon caynne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Place ground beef in large bowl and gently work in syrup with hands. In small bowl, toss together onion, garlic, sage, thyme, syrup, brown sugar, paprika, allspice, cayenne, salt and pepper. Sprinkle over beef and work spices in with hands, taking care not to over handle beef (creates toughness).
  3. Line rimmed baking sheet (approx. size 13” x 18”) with foil and gently press in meat mixture to reach corner to corner, maintaining an even thickness. Place pan on center rack of oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160F degrees with instant-read meat thermometer.
  4. Carefully remove pan and drain off any excess liquid. Let rest for 5 minutes.
  5. For wedges, cut into 12 equal-sized rectangles (3 columns, 4 rows) and then cut each rectangle on the diagonal. Or, use biscuit cutter to make rounds and then crumble up remnants for use later.or wedges, cut into 12 equal-sized rectangles (3 columns, 4 rows) and then cut each rectangle on the diagonal. Or, use biscuit cutter to make rounds and then crumble up remnants for use later.