Here’s a volumized dish perfect for this lovely fall weather. Apples, peppers, sage, sausage, green beans, all purchased fresh from a farm stand (or a decent produce-supplying grocery store), and glazed in a brown sugar and wheat beer concoction.

The added bonus…it’s healthy.

            Fall Fresh Ingredients! I love this time of year.

I love cooking with beer and wine…probably because I really enjoy drinking both. (I’m know…such a Ward). I’m told you never want to cook with a beer or wine you wouldn’t drink. The idea is that you’re adding flavor…so why would you add something distasteful. I chose Blue Moon as my wheat beer for this recipe, but if you’ve got something else in mind, such as a craft beer, go for it.

          Blue Moon Glazed Sausage and Apples- 309 calories per serving

Yields: 4 servings
Cook Time: Less than 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 (12oz) bottle Blue Moon beer
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
1 (13oz) package turkey kielbasa, cut into 2 inch pieces
12oz fresh or frozen green beans
butter flavored cooking spray
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 medium cooking apples, cored and cut into thin slices
1 Tbsp light butter made with canola oil
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
½ tsp finely shredded orange peel
1 Tbsp small sage leaves

Bring half of the beer and the crushed red pepper to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the kielbasa and green beans, then simmer, covered, for 8 minutes. Drain. In the meantime, spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Over medium high heat, cook the bell pepper for 2 minutes, then add the apples, stirring occasionally for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside. Pour the remaining beer in the skillet, along with the light butter, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and orange peel. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until beer begins to thicken slightly, about 3 minutes. Glaze the kielbasa, green beans, and bell pepper by adding them to the skillet until heated through. Remove from heat, but add the apples and sage quickly, stirring gently to mix them in to the glaze as well.

Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer: I am not a certified nutritionist…these are just the calculations I’m pretty sure are close to correct. I use BodyMedia to generate my information.

Calories: 309
Fat: 9.8g
Saturated Fat: 3.3g
Cholesterol: 52.5mg
Sodium: 858.1mg
Carbohydrates: 35g
Dietary Fiber: 4.8g
Sugar: 18.5g
Protein: 17.3g

Dietary Exchange: 1½ Starch, 2 Meat, ½ Fat, ½ Fruit, 1 Vegetable
Jenny Craig: This is a little high in sugar because of the fruit, rather than a whole grain wheat. Because of that, I’d count this as 1 entree and half a fruit serving.
Weight Watchers: 8 Points (using calculatorcat.com).