Spicy Sausage, Prune and Grande Grain Stuffing - Winner Announced

Today is the beginning of Week 2 for the California Olive Ranch & Bob’s Red Mill Healthy New Year Challenge here on Farmgirl Gourmet!  This week’s grain and olive oil pairings are:

• Miller’s Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil – California Olive Ranch
• Grande Whole Grains Blend – Bob’s Red Mill

I had to dream up a side dish to go with the 2 ingredients above.  After much thought, I decided on a stuffing recipe.  The ingredients are simple and readily available to you at most supermarkets.  The taste?  Well let’s just say that there was not much chatter at the dinner table.  That’s usually a great sign that my concoction was a success. 
This week I’m giving away the Miller’s Blend EVOO and the Grande Whole Grain to one lucky winner.  Like last week’s giveaway, 11 other Virtual Potluck bloggers will be giving away the same ingredients.  Pop over to GrooVy Foody to see the list of dishes and links to the other bloggers.  You have 12 chances to win! 

And the Winner is.........

@miacupcake· 1 day ago

Followed California Olive Ranch on Twitter!

Congrats to @MiaCupcake!!  I've sent you a DM.  Please get me your mailing address and we'll get your goodies in the mail ASAP!!  Thanks to everyone who commented!

How to Enter

• Find this weeks secret word on California Olive Ranch Facebook page.  Use the word in a sentence in the comments section below.
• Open to US Addresses Only
• Giveaway runs from Wednesday January 11, 2012 to Sunday January 15, 2012 at 9:00 PM PST.
• Winner will be chosen via random.org

Additional Entries:



For extra entries do any or all of the below and then come back here and leave a comment for each:

• Follow Bob’s Red Mill on Twitter
• Follow California Olive Ranch on Twitter
• Follow Virtual Potluck on Twitter
• Tweet about the contest: “I just entered to win @Bobs_Red_Mill & @CA_EVOO products from @FarmgirlGourmet & #virtualpotluck. Enter here: http://su.pr/80rYPk “  Comment again, letting me know you've done so, by providing the link to your tweet.

More Blogs, More Ways to Win:

Get additional entries in each week's giveaways by visiting our host blog and finding other participating VP bloggers sites to comment on.  You have 48 chances to win great products!

• CA Olive Ranch would also like to offer readers a 10% discount by entering coupon code ‘BLOGFRIENDS’ upon checkout at our online store

Spicy Sausage, Prune & Grande Grain Stuffing
[print]


Ingredients
2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon ham base (or beef/chicken bouillon)
1 cup Grande Whole Grain
1 tablespoon Miller’s Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
1/2 lb spicy ground sausage
1 shallot, minced
8 prunes, diced
1 medium apple, cored, diced (like honey crisp, jonagold)
salt & pepper, to taste

Directions
1 In a medium saucepan add the water, ham base & grande whole grain.  Bring to a boil then reduce temperature to low and cover.  Simmer for 1 hour, then remove from stove and allow to rest 30-45 minutes.  Fluff with a fork and set aside.
2 In a medium skillet set over medium-high heat, warm 1/2 of the olive oil and then add the sausage.  Break it up as much as possible and saute until no longer pink.  Add to the grande grain mixture.  Return skillet to stove and add the remaining olive oil.  Saute the shallot for about 1-2 minutes.  Add to the sausage and grain mixture.  Add the prunes & apple to the grande grain mixture and stir to combine.  Season with salt and pepper.  Serve as a side dish or as a stuffing for Pork Chops.

Makes 4-6 servings


Disclaimer: I was provided Grande Whole Grain and Miller’s Blend EVOO from the manufacturers to review.  I was not compensated for this post or a positive review.  All opinions are my own.