Tailgating with Grandpa Sal's Sausage and Peppers for #SundaySupper

This recipe reminds me of one of my favorite people ever: My Grandpa Sal. He and my Grandma Sylvia lived in the house right behind ours. Our backyards connected. As a little boy, it was great to have my grandparents live so close. (I'm sure my dad thought otherwise of having his in-laws 100 yards away.)

One of the benefits was watching them cook. (And eating what they cooked.) My grandparents were first-generation Americans. Their parents brought them here. They lived in a time where they were too embarrassed to speak Italian here. (This is why, unfortunately, I don't speak it.) Thankfully, one thing they did pass along was a love for good Italian food.

This is from Christmas 1983. It makes me so happy and sad.
Don't they look amazing? I miss their smiles and laughs.

I remember summer days when Grandpa would be grilling the sausage in his backyard and we could smell it from my backyard. We'd be swimming in our pool, and he'd materialize out of nowhere. He'd saunter up to the diving board and gracefully belly flop into the water. He'd swim a lap, splash some water onto the slide, get out, climb the stairs to the slide, go down it, and then exit the pool and return to his grill. Minutes later, he'd announce that lunch was ready.

Grandpa wasn't a sports fan, though. He never tailgated in his life. But he could cook anything. He could fix anything too. (I got one of those two traits.) But sausage and peppers will always remind me of him. One of the most gregarious, lovable, happy, helpful, loyal men I will ever meet. I hope to one day to be half of the father and grandfather he was. (Grandma Sylvia has a post of her own. You can read it here.)

Enjoy this as you're watching your football this or any other Sunday. Thanks, Gramps. And go Jets!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. sausage (about 5-6 links) As I mentioned before, get your sausage at an Italian butcher if you can.
• 2 large bell peppers, red and green
• 1 large onion, sliced thick
• salt and pepper
• olive oil

Tools:

• Grill
• Tongs
• Large Pyrex

Procedure:

• Heat your grill to high. While it's heating up, slice your peppers and onions. Slice them thick enough to put on the grill. 
• Make sure to poke holes in your sausage (giggles) so it doesn't explode on the grill. 
• Place everything on the grill at once. Lower the heat to medium, making sure nothing burns. 
• When grill has cooled, turn the sausage and the vegetables and close the lid. Let it cook for 5 minutes. Then open the lid, and place the vegetables on the warming rack on your grill. (If you don't have one, place them in the oven heated to 300. You'll need that heated oven eventually anyway. So go ahead and do it now.)
• Now you're just turning the sausage every 5 minutes, and closing the lid afterwards, until it's cooked. Should take about two or three more turns.
• Remove sausage and veggies, turn off grill, and let it all cool off for a few minutes. Once everything is cool enough to handle, slice the sausage in 1/4"-1/2" slices. Cut up your veggies too.
• Mix everything in your Pyrex. Add salt, pepper, and olive oil to taste. Return to oven.
• Cook another 30-45 minutes, depending on how crispy you want your sausage on the outside.
• Serve with some nice bread. I like a good crispy Portuguese roll. Serves 4.

Making it peanut-friendly:

• She loves sausage, so this is a no-brainer. The peppers and onions are another story. 
• The great thing about this is you can do your grilling early, then time it so you pop it in the oven before your guests arrive if you're having them over for the game. That way, once the hellos are said and everyone has a beer in their hand, it's ready to eat.

Enjoy and go Jets!

Check out these other great #SundaySupper recipes to make your tailgate great:

The Lineup

Pre Game Warm-ups:

• Sausage Balls by My Catholic Kitchen
• Edamame Hummus by Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• Slow Cooker Rueben Dip by The Meltaways
• Buffalo Wing Hummus by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Smokey Guacamole with Bacon by Family Spice
• Pepperoni & Mozzarella Pull Apart by In the Kitchen with KP
• Boneless Honey BBQ Chicken Wings by Juanita’s Cocina
• Candied Pecans by From Fast Food to Fresh Food
• Crispy Coconut Chicken Strips with Sweet Chili Sauce by Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
• Swabian Mini Meatballs (Schwaebische Mini Fleischkuechle) by Galactosemia in PDX
• Joe Montana’s Touchdown Guacamole by Noshing with the Nolands
• Cheddar Cheese Jalapeno Bites by Mama.Mommy.Mom.
• Hot & Spicy Popcorn Chicken by My Trials in the Kitchen
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites by Family Foodie
• Soft Pretzels with Spicy Beer Cheese Sauce by girlichef
• Game Day Loaded Nachos by The Messy Baker
• Buffalo Chicken Dip by Home Cooking Memories
• Southwestern Spring Rolls by Supper for a Steal
• Pepperoni Pizza Puffs by Comfy Cuisine
• Roasted Garlic Bacon Dip with Easy Homemade Tortilla Chips by Daily Dish Recipes
• Beer Battered Spiced Sweet Potato Lentil Fritters by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Indian Spiced Chicken Meatballs by Soni’s Food for Thought

On the Sidelines:

• Anne’s Best Potato Salad with Bacon and Peas by Webicurean
• Simple Roasted Purple Potatoes by Ruffles and Truffles
• Spicy BBQ Baked Beans by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Main Events:
• Gluten Free Breakfast Sandwich by Cooking Underwriter
• Pollo Adobado con Papas (Adobo Chicken with Potatoes) by La Cocina de Leslie
• Poor Man’s Burrito by Shockingly Delicious
• Ham and Mushroom Handpies by Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Individual Muffuletta Sandwiches by Magnolia Days
• Far East Steak Salad by Diabetic Foodie
• Italian Sloppy Joes by The Weekend Gourmet
• Hot Chicken Chili by Momma’s Meals
• Louisiana Sloppy Joes by Sustainable Dad
• Hawaiian Chicken Wraps by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Grandpa Sal’s Sausage and Peppers by Daddy Knows Less
• Fancy Filet Chili by I Run for Wine
• Homemade Italian Sausage by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
• Jalapeno Crockpot Chili by Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Flavorful Fall Marinade by Midlife Road Trip
• Moose Chili by Mrs. Mama Hen

Overtime:

• Peanut Butter-Stuffed Chocolate Cookies by Chocolate Moosey
• Streusel Topped Pumpkin Bread by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Zucchini Cupcakes by In the Kitchen with Audrey
• Oven-Baked Churros by Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Swirl Nutella Cupcakes by Basic N Delicious
• Peanut Butter and Pretzel Truffles by Gotta Get Baked

From the Cooler:

• Sparkling Tropical Lemonade by Dinners. Dishes, and Desserts
• Strawberry Horchata by Damn Delicious