Two Favorite Winter Meals

Here are two meals that we seem to enjoy more in the fall and winter. They are both tasty, cozy, and delicious.

Brunswick Stew

This is a recipe that came from my childhood when my family lived in Toccoa, GA. We lived there while my Dad (your Papa) was in Bible school at Toccoa Falls. We moved there when I was in second grade and we moved to North Carolina the summer before I started sixth grade.
Just two weeks ago on our Disney trip, we stopped at a rest area in Brunswick, Georgia. Whit was taken with the big black kettle monument that was there. It had a historic sign that reminded travelers that Brunswick, GA, is the home of Brunswick stew. There were some big black birds that were hanging out - sitting and flying around the kettle. It looked like a scene from Harry Potter. Whit and I enjoyed seeing this monument to one of his favorite foods.

Here is the official Georgia recipe from my childhood for Brunswick Stew:

30 oz. bottle of GF ketchup
3-4 chicken breasts boiled and cut into small pieces (retain broth)
2-3 pounds of browned ground beef (brown with chopped onion)
48 oz can of tomato juice
2 cans of GF creamed corn
1 can of whole kernel corn
4 large potatoes boiled and cubed (boil in retained chicken broth)
2-3 T. GF Worcester sauce

*All measurements are somewhat approximate and based on how those products were packaged and sold when I was little girl. You can alter amounts slightly as you may purchase things in a slightly different size when it comes to ounces of ketchup, tomato juice, etc.

Brown your ground beef with chopped onion. Boil your chicken and shred or chop it into bite size pieces. Retain the broth/water and boil your potatoes in the same water.

Combine chicken and beef with onion in a big pot. Add tomato juice, corn, Worcester sauce, and ketchup. Pour in potatoes and broth (*IF the broth from the chicken breasts and potatoes doesn't have much flavor, feel free to add a packet of chicken broth powder or substitute some liquid chicken broth. I have used half water/half broth to boil the chicken in when using boneless/skinless breasts.).
Stew on stove for 30-40 minutes till heated through. This tastes great with your favorite bread or cornbread.
This one is favorite!

Sausage and Rice Casserole

1 cup or rice
4 1/2 cups of boiling water
1 large onion chopped
1 c. chopped celery
1 large bell pepper chopped
1 lb. of browned GF sausage (Crumbled not links)
1 can of water chestnuts
1 can of GF chicken noodle soup or 2 packages of GF chicken broth (Herb Ox brand is what I have used)

Brown sausage. Put all ingredients in a pan and bake at 350* for one hour or more (until water is mostly absorbed). Let sit for a few moments and then serve.

Another household favorite!