Super Simple Kielbasa for Super Busy Week Nights

This week has been insane. If it wasn’t baseball (which I do love), it was something going on at school for end-of-year celebrations, and if not that then it was baseball and something going on at school.

Next week is more of the same, just add three, yes three half days. Three schools, four kids, all playing sports combined with the end of year madness definitely make for a disastrous dinnertime for the home cook. Sound familiar?

I was dropping off a cooler of ice for fourth grade field day at Oakdale this week and talked to a few of the moms and we all agreed that this time of year is chaotic with everyone on overload: moms, dads, coaches, teachers and kids. Teacher’s gifts, volunteer appreciation luncheons, end of year ice cream parties, concerts and playoff games are only a few things on the To Do List. No wonder I have a hard time planning dinners lately.

But this dinner is so super easy that you must make it! Kielbasa (Polish sausage) combined with one other ingredient (brown sugar) makes a fantastic appetizer, but it also makes a great dinner, too. Simply serve over brown rice and serve with a side salad or a veggie and you’re finished. Let the slow cooker do all the work for you and you won’t be shelling out cash for yet another takeout dinner.

When you’re on the hook to make an appetizer, take five minutes to cut the kielbasa “coins”, topped with brown sugar (dark or light brown sugar, doesn’t matter) pop them in your slow cooker for a few hours and let them cook while you do “a million other things.” Place them on a platter with some toothpicks and you’ve got yourself an appetizer that any crowd will gobble up.

Enjoy!

Kielbasa with Sweet Brown Sugar Glaze

Two 16 oz. packages of Kielbasa cut into 1/4 inch rounds

1 1/2 cups packed light or dark brown sugar

Place cut Kielbasa in slow cooker. Top with brown sugar. Cover. Cook on high for 2.5 to 3 hours.