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Smell of cooked sausage too good to ignore

Sausage mac
Sausage mac

They say you should never go to the grocery store hungry. You'll spend more money, likely on junk food.

But sometimes a hungry trip to the store is unavoidable.

On those days I know to steer clear of the rotisserie chickens and the store's hot food and salad bars. And I'm well aware that swinging by the bakery is out of the question. As are the cookie/cracker/chips aisles and that doughnut island temptress near the self-checkout.

But for the most part I'm usually quite confident in my ability to run in for toilet paper, dog food and to pick up a refill at the pharmacy without any extraneous purchases, thanks to my neighborhood store's design.

If I stick to my list -- TP, dog food crunchies, inhaler -- I'll be fine, I told myself as I got out the car and smelled pizza in the breeze coming from two neighborhood restaurants.

The pharmacy was the first stop. No problem. Next, on to the dog food. All right. All right. Then while pushing the buggy -- I have big dogs, the cart was necessary to carry the food -- it hit me.

The aroma of hot smoked sausage. Freshly cooked. As in still sizzling on the hot plate.

Be strong, just get the toilet paper and check out. You can do it.

But that smell!

And then I hear: "Ma'am, would you like to try some sausage?" I turn to look toward the voice and there it is: Golden-brown, toothpick-speared, sizzling-hot crosscuts of sausage bubbling away on an electric griddle. Original to the right. Jalapeno to the left.

Well, I can't deny the cute little girl. And that smell! So I have piece.

OMTG -- Oh, my that's good! It tastes as good as it smells.

And I'm sold.

Into my buggy goes a package of Country Pleasin' Jalapeno and Cheese Smoked Sausage.

Country Pleasin', I later learn, was founded in Pelahatchie, Miss. in 1976. The products, according to the company's Facebook page, are distributed across the country. I found it at Kroger in Little Rock.

A couple of days later I added the spicy-hot, smoky sausage to a box of shells and cheese for a quick dinner, and it was just as good as that first bite in the grocery store.

Sausage Mac

1 box macaroni and cheese such as Velveeta Shells and Cheese or Cracker Barrel

1/2 (16-ounce) package smoked sausage, thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, diced

3 green onions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated

Prepare macaroni and cheese according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sliced sausage in a single layer until browned on one side. Stir in bell pepper and green onion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Add sausage mixture to the macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle with green onion and serve.

Makes 2 to 3 servings.

Food on 03/08/2017

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