EZ Eats: Sausage Casserole

We have been trying to incorporate fermented foods into our diet to boost the good bacteria in our bellies. Sauerkraut is a tasty way to do this. I don't enjoy sauerkraut plain jane, but I love it cooked and mixed with other foods. I found this recipe on Pinterest of all places ;) and adapted it to meet our dietary needs.

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package of precooked chicken sausage without any additives (dietz and watson has a good traditional chicken brat)
1 cup cut carrots
2 red potatoes
1 cup sauerkraut
1 tbs minced garlic
4 pats of butter
1/2 red bell pepper
1 tbs Italian spices (I have a premade Penzey's mix that I love!)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Cut up your veggies, carrots and sausage. Toss in a 9x9 pan. Add your sauerkraut. Sprinkle italian seasoning, and minced garlic all over. Add about 4 butter pats, and spread out around the dish. Bake for 40 minutes covered in foil, remove foil and bake another 10-20 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Remove from the oven and serve alone or over a bed of greens.

Health Notes:
Chicken is a great lean protein and Vitamin B source. If using a different type of sausage make sure to check the ingredients. Producers like to add in all sorts of unnecessary ingredients. Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene which can be converted by the body into Vitamin A, but they are high in carbs. Potatoes are a great source of potassium. Sauerkraut is a great source of Vitamin C and antioxidants. It also has probiotics from the fermentation process. Probiotics have been shown to aid digestion and replenish the healthy bacteria in the gut.