When I got home from work today, I flipped on the TV and listened to a news program while I tried to figure out what to make for dinner. Have you noticed how they advertise the upcoming news segments with shocking titles? This one was something like, "What in your dining room is making you fat?" When they finally aired segment after several teasers, they reported that blue is the best color for plates, dining room walls, tablecloths, etc. Why? Because supposedly when people eat surrounded by the color blue, they eat less. The worst colors are yellow and red. One group of people ate dinner in a blue room and another in a yellow room, and the group in the blue room ate 30% less. I'm not sure about the quality of scientific research, but it's intriguing.
Have you noticed the color of our plates that play a supporting role in all of our food photos? They are mustard yellow! (They came with my husband. I like the style of them. The color, well, it is tolerable. The best thing about them is that they are almost indestructible.) Are we overeating every day because of our yellow plates? Maybe we should start using salad plates for dinner...
Last week, we had a hearty dinner served on salad plates. Sausage and peppers cooked with kale, tomatoes, onions and potatoes. I don't think I had ever made sausage and peppers with potatoes until I met my husband. He's Italian-American (among other things), and it's a family classic. His dad usually makes it with sausage, vinegar peppers and potatoes. It's FABULOUS! It's amazing how simple, classic meals are so good - no wonder they have stood the test of time. We added some extra veggies, and cooked it in our dutch oven on top of the stove. It was great - we got some oven fresh taste without heating up our apartment.
Sausage and Peppers with Kale, Tomato and Potatoes
1 lb Italian sausage, cut in half
1 lb potatoes, chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 peppers, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 bunch kale,chopped
oil
Drizzle oil in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Add the rest of the ingredients, and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally. Cook until the desired crispness is achieved, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
We served it on small plates because it is so filling.
This post is part of Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist.
9 comments:
I love a mess of healthy food on a plate - or is that a healthy mess of food. Either way, it looks like something I would do - and delicious.
I had no idea that colors and appetite were related! interesting, my walls are green, wondering how it affects me ;o) - And yes family classics are always great, they've been made for ages, and have proven themselves! delicious combo you have here!
Just wanted to let you know that I gave you an award on my blog! Check it out! http://cookinginkenzo.blogspot.com/2010/08/somebody-likes-me.html
I always fall for those news teasers, staying up for the 11 o'clock news so not to miss...I always feel duped! My dining room walls are blue and they always make me crave seafood!
This meal looks awesome and I'm jealous you live in NYC. Used to and miss it!
mmmmm, this does sound addicting...YUM! And yeah, I've always heard that. Orange, yellow, reds...all comforting and inviting, so I always WANTED my kitchen and dining room to be those warm, friendly colors! The bathroom can be blue ;) LOL...thanks so much for sharing this w/ Two for Tuesdays this week!
I'd say the plates are keepers, those raised edges seem handy. I'm not sure if there's even a trace of italian in me, but I sure do love sausage and peppers. It's a great way to take advantage of the flavor of sausage. Thanks for linking up with the blog hop at Two for Tuesday.
Hey another New Yorker on the blog hop! I am now following your blog and I do love those plates! Are they melmac? Very retro! Sausage and peppers is to die for isn't it and so reminds me of our home town :) Well, I was born in brooklyn and now live on "the island" but NYC is home! Thanks for linking to the Two for Tuesday Recipe Blog Hop and please visit me to enter my giveaway of a Real Food for Rookies Class! http://bit.ly/dwfvMj :) Alex@amoderatelife
This is one of my favorite combo's but I have never added kale - I can't wait to try it and see what the food critics in my house think - I know I will love it! (we have the same background on our blogs - I thought at first I linked home LOL!) thanks for linking to Two for Tuesdays!
The plates do look like melmac, but they are Noritake Primastone (stoneware). Thanks for all of the comments.
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