Italian Sausage Zucchini Soup

Yeah... It's that time of year again... The time when everybody and their dog has zucchini coming out of their ears. It's also the only time of year when people in small towns lock their doors. *snicker*

So anyway, I have been scouring my Taste of Home app for zucchini recipes so we can have something other than the ever popular Zucchini Bread. *snort* So I came across this one recipe, scanned the ingredients and my mind started running off with ideas. Here's what fell in my soup pot tonight. Enjoy!

1 lb. Italian sausage
1 medium or 2 small(ish) zucchinis, sliced
2 yellow summer squash, sliced
1 c. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pt. diced tomatoes
1 can chicken broth
1 c. water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. pepper

Brown the sausage, add to a large stockpot with all the other stuff. Being to a boil, turn the heat down and summer until the veggies are all soft. YUMMY!!

Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken

I got this recipe from my Taste of Home app on my phone... I really shouldn't have a Taste of Home app on my phone. Now I can look up recipes without even going to my cookbook bookcase! And if you know anything about me, you know I spend much too much time reading cookbooks as it is!!

Whatever the sorry excuse is, this is an awesome recipe!! I'll take a picture sometime and post it if you really want one. ;) The sauce for this is actually for 2 while chickens, but we don't eat THAT much chicken!! I still make the full batch of sauce though, so next time I make chicken I have it on hand! :D

1 boiler/fryer chicken (3 1/2-4 lbs.), cut up

1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. vinegar
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
2 T. + 2 t. chili powder
2 T. + 2 t. prepared brown or horseradish mustard
1 t. salt
1/4-1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes ( used 1/4 and it's plenty warm for us!)

Combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.

Grill the chicken, covered, over medium heat for 40 minutes (or until almost done) turning several times. Pour some sauce into a smallish bowl and baste the chicken. Grill 5-10 minutes longer until juices run clear.

Serve with additional sauce if you like and put the rest in a jar for the next time you make something and need awesome sauce.