This is Technically Only Five Paragraphs

This morning my daughter wandered into the kitchen with sleepy eyes, opened the fridge, squinted from the brightness inside, looked at me and said, "Mom, I don't think I have ever seen our fridge so empty." I agreed. We spent a long relaxing weekend in Maine, so last Friday morning the trash collector was gifted the leftovers from the fridge and the garbage disposal devoured the ends of salsa jars and lunch containers. (We unfortunately are not able to compost where we are.) Aside from a stray yogurt and a half an onion, the shelves are bare. But, before I go shopping, a menu must be concocted! Let's start with this:

ALE-BRAISED BRATWURST WITH GERMAN POTATO SALAD

Grab a couple bottles of beer and boil enough brats to feed your brats, and this recipe for German potato salad:

1 1/2 pound small red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
4 slices thick-cut bacon, about 1/3 pound
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup finely chopped chives

How?

Place sliced potatoes in cold salted water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Cook until fork tender, yet not so soft they fall apart, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a sauté pan, fry bacon until crisp. Crumble and set aside. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat. Over medium heat, whisk flour into the bacon fat and cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in sugar and mustard, followed by water and vinegar. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in potatoes and bacon and toss gently to coat.  Serve with Brats.

Nutritional Info:
PER SERVING: 500 calories (140 from fat), 16g total fat, 8g saturated fat, 90mg cholesterol, 310mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (dietary fiber, sugar), 31g protein.

(Recipe from http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/ale-braised-bratwurst-german-potato-salad)

Okay, so you all know how much I love sausage, and since it's fall, potato salad seems the perfect pairing.  But, you can also tell there are calories and fat and carbs in this meal, not to mention salt, and that combination may be a little too aggressive for some to digest.  I understand if you are confused by this meal choice.  For me, my growing family and athletic lifestyle, this meal serves many needs: fuel, fat, nutrition, flavor, and simplicity.  For some of you, cholesterol rich foods and fat calories may be a bit over the top.  This may be a better fit:

BETTER THAN CHICKEN SOUP

1 small yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
8 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
4 cups low-sodium mushroom, vegetable or chicken broth
1 1/2 cup julienned fresh kale
1 cup cubed butternut squash
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
6 slices astragalus root (optional)
1 fresh lemon, Juice of
1 teaspoon miso

Method: 

In a sauce pot over medium-high heat, saute onion and garlic in oil 3 minutes. Add turmeric and mushrooms. Saute 2 minutes. Add broth, kale, squash, ginger, cayenne and astragalus. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly, add lemon juice and miso (adding miso when still very hot will diminish its probiotic benefits). Cover and let sit 5 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Info:
PER SERVING: 90 calories (5 from fat), 0.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 160mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (6g dietary fiber, 5g sugar), 2g protein
(Recipe from http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/better-chicken-soup)

It is important to remember that each person, each family, has different nutritional needs. Where we need more fat, more fuel, more electrolytes, and more calories because we are very active and have growing chickens (if you can call them kids, I can call them chickens), some need less fat and calories and more nutrients to support weight loss or cholesterol reduction. May I suggest we all eat real, naturally occurring foods, drink plenty of water, give our vitamins their vitamins, and remember to wash our hands. Our diets may not be the same, but the foundation should be made of food~  What is the definition of food again?

Anna~