You Can't Tell Me What to Do!

I enjoy cooking, and at one time, I would not have said that. As I talk to others along the road of life, I find many people are in the "I don't like cooking" boat, and what I've learned is that they feel like they absolutely HAVE to follow instructions. Look, I love to follow instructions. I'm a teacher AND almost an Enneagram 1 (it's a close second to my actual type), OF COURSE I love to follow instructions. But experience has taught me that cooking requires freedom and experimentation in order to be enjoyable long term. And since my family still enjoys eating meals, I think the long term will continue for the time being. Might as well make it enjoyable.

Today's feature is the perfect example--Brats and Tots. First of all, who's not going to love this idea? It's genius in both flavor and rhymes. Second, there are several steps to this, and I'm not doing all that after a full day of work. BUT, I can take this recipe as inspiration, makes some easy swaps, and have the best of both worlds.

I started with Johnsonville Turkey Cheddar Brats, since they were already in the freezer. I fried them in my skillet to get some nice color and crispiness. I air-fried the brats like the package suggested. I did not do any onions or peppers. They are not loved by everyone in my house, and I wasn't interested in the extra work. I purchased a beer cheese sauce from my store and just warmed it up in the microwave. Once everything was cooked, I just assembled--a nice little pile of tots, brat slices, and cheese sauce and green onion over the top. 

This was super simple, but it tasted soooooo good. Proof that yummy food doesn't have to be time consuming or difficult. Is it the healthiest of meals, no, but it's also probably better than takeout, and it's certainly more cost effective. Plus, you could totally add other toppings to make this exactly to your tastes. The perfect combo in more ways than one.