Bolognese-y Sauce with Fresh Basil and Thyme over Zero Calorie Noodles

I have been slacking in my eating right & my cooking... But last night I wanted a really good tomato based sauce so I made one! Once again, no pics... cuz I was hungry!

Ingredients
1 lb, ground beef (80/20, you need that fat!)
1 package of sweet italian sausage (casings removed)
1 small package of baby bella mushrooms (sliced)
1 medium onion
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes (I used Muir Glen)
2 cans of tomato paste
2 packages of zero calorie noodles (I used NO Oodle)
1 cap full of olive oil

Seasonings to taste
chopped garlic
fresh basil
fresh thyme
dried oregano (I didn't have it growing in my countertop herb garden)
granulated garlic
salt
pepper

Equipment
cutting board
knife
large sauce pot with lid
non-stick frying pan
colander

What to do:

1. Chop garlic possible. Remove thyme leaves from stalk. Take 8-10 basil leaves (or less... I loooove BASIL!), Roll together & chop in long, thin pieces( this is called chiffonade! now you fancy!). Chop onions and peppers into long strips. Remove sausage from casing and crumble.
2. Heat 1 cap full of oil on medium heat. Add onions and peppers to sauce pot, stirring occasionally.
3. Heat frying pan on medium high heat. Add crumbled ground beef and crumbled sausage.
4. Add granulated garlic to meat and lightly salt. Continue to stir until it is cooked through.
5. Add meat mixture to sauce pot and turn heat to medium low. 
6. Add tomatoes and tomato paste to pot and stir. Add basil, thyme and oregano and stir. Add sliced mushrooms and stir. 
7. Taste the sauce and add salt & pepper to your liking.
8. Turn heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. To serve, remove noodles from package & rinse under hot water in colander. Place in plate or bowl and ladle the sauce over the noodles. Noodles will soften as they heat up.

SPRANKLE some REAL Parmesan on it & eat it up!

Cabbage, Sausage & Peppers in the Crockpot

I don't have any pictures of this because I was working on it on a whim.

Ingredients:
1 medium/large head of cabbage (it can be large-ISH depending on the size of your crock pot)
1 large sweet onion
6 small sweet peppers
1 package of smoked sausage or kielbasa (with the casing ON- it's important... I used turkey smoked sausage)
1 package of sweet italian sausage ( casing doesn't matter because you're going to cut  it off anyway! I used Premio)
*you can also add red potatoes, but I am trying to cut back on those delicious things*
1/2 cup of water
olive oil

Seasonings to taste:
cumin
crushed garlic
sea salt or rock salt
fresh ground pepper
caraway (optional)
coriander (optional)
turmeric (optional)

Equipment:
2 knives
2 cutting boards
1 saute pan
1 crockpot

What to do:

1. Remove the outer layers of the cabbage, then cut the cabbage into 2 1/2 inch wide pieces. Add half to the crock pot set other half aside. If using potatoes cube & add them now.
2. Slice the peppers into medium width strips and place in the crock pot.
3. Cut onions into 2 inch pieces and set aside.
4. put a SPLASH of oil in the sautee pan and  turn the stove on medium heat. Cut the Italian sausage out of the casing and crumble into the pan. 
5. While that browns, cut the smoked sausage or kielbasa into 1 inch pieces and set aside.
6. Stir the italian sausage making sure it is cooked through. Add JUST the meat to the crock pot leaving the grease in the pan.
7. Add the onions and smoked sausage to the pan along with the crushed garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, caraway, coriander & turmeric (it adds a little UMPF & gives the onions a yellow hue).
8. Once the sausage is seared and the onions are just a little limp and add to the crock pot.
9. Add the rest of the cabbage and just a dash or 3 of the seasonings you added to the onions. Pour in the half cup of water.
10. Set the crock pot on high for 2 hours or low for 4. In an hour, try to stir everything up to make sure the cabbage on top is not CROUNCHY! (yes CROUNCHY!)