Sausage & Black Beans

This may not make the most attractive presentation on the table, but it is a new addition to the wonderful comfort food category, not to mention being very easy.

Serves 8-12

1 lb bulk sausage -- I used mild or sweet Italian

1 qt chicken broth

2 15-oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2 14 1/2-oz cans hominy, rinsed and drained

2 10 1/2-oz cans diced tomatoes with jalepenos or green chilies

4 cups frozen diced hash browns (Southern style)

1 green pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 heaping T minced garlic

1 T oregano

1 t chili powder

Brown sausage in frying pan, breaking sausage into small pieces. Add to crockpot with remaining ingredients. Stir. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, or high for 2-2 1/2 hours. Add more chicken broth if you think it gets too dry.

It is also good with a little Mexican cheese sprinkled on top when serving.

Captian Lord Mansion Creamy Hash Browns

We stayed at the Captain Lord Mansion of Kennebunkport, Maine this April to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It was a comfortable but regal (Federal) bed and breakfast, and we stayed on the third floor. Their breakfast were excellent, and we could smell them as we descended all those stairs in the morning. The friendly Christian cook gave me his recipe for the hash browns he served on Saturday morning.

Serves: 12 - 16

1 (2 lb) bag southern style hash browns, thawed
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups grated cheddar, jack, or mexican cheese
2/3 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 can French fried onion rings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all ingredients except for the onion rings. Bake in a greased 9 by 13" glass baking dish for 1 hour. Top with the onion rings and bake another 10 minutes.

Serve immediately.