Jimmy & Jay save the day: a bean recipe

There comes a point — usually after you’ve prepared an appetizer, dessert, breakfast casserole and side dish for four Christmas events in three days — that you just. can’t. stand. the kitchen.

Today is one of those days. Luckily, for this afternoon’s event, I’m to bring a vegetable side dish. When it comes to vegetables, the carnivorous folks attending think that means beans or corn. Excellent.

With a little help from my friends Jimmy Dean and Jay Bush, I can whip up a quick and easy appetizer in 15 minutes or less (if you don’t count bake time).

Depending on the size of your crowd, gather as many cans of Bush’s Baked Beans as needed. Here’s the sneaky part: use a variety of beans. I love the Grillin’ Beans. I love the original Baked Beans. Mix ‘em up for great flavors.

And here’s a tip: If you can buy cans of Grillin’ Beans at your local bent-n-dent store for 85 cents a can, you’re also being frugal. Yippee!

Next, brown a pound of Jimmy Dean Sausage HOT style in your favorite cast iron skillet. Do not be worried about the word HOT. It will not burn your tongue (unless you eat it straight out of the skillet). When all is said and done, the HOT flavors simply add some depth to your beans. Trust me. I do not condone eating painful food.

When your sausage is done, drain it and put it in a casserole dish or bean pot. Then dump in all the beans you feel necessary for your shindig. Gently stir it all around.

Note: See those chunks of red and green peppers? Those ingredients came from the cans of Grillin’ Beans — but the folks you serve this dish to will think you chopped ‘em up yourself. Brilliant!

Disclaimer: I love to cook. I love to chop and dice and mince and puree, make rouxs and mix and saute. HOWEVER, at this point in the holiday season I’ve had my fill. And I just want a quickie. Really.

So … don’t hold such a quick-n-easy idea against me. It’s not gourmet … although Jimmy & Jay may disagree, I did incorporate their secret recipes, after all!

Happy holidays!