Courtesy of Saags.com. Do you know how hard it is to get a decent photo of sausages? You're about to find out.

If you’re a meat eater, RUN, don’t walk, to your nearest deli or check out the website for Saag’s Specialty Meats & Sausages. Saag’s…it rhymes with Baa. Like the sheep.

I was first introduced to Saag’s at Foodbuzz Fest, and I was super excited to read the label and learn that Saag’s meats contain no nitrates and their Naturals Sausages also contain no nitrites. Now I’m no expert on food additives, but I do know that a mighty migraine is headed my way if I indulge in either nitrates or nitrites (much like my reaction to MSG). For more information, Google “food additives nitrates.”

With high hopes for creating a myriad of delicious, meaty recipes, I soon received a sampler pack from the kind folks at Saag’s. I had already become addicted to their salami on open-face sandwiches topped with Trader Joe’s Fancy shredded cheese. A little squirt of mustard, ten seconds in the microwave and voilá.

I was super excited to try their Naturals Chicken Asiago Fennel sausages in Roll-ups. You know, Roll-ups like your mom used to make when the babysitter was on her way over. (The foods I crave most are from my childhood, what can I say?)I used a package of low-fat crescent rolls and some mustard. Easy McPeasy. They just needed to be baked a little bit longer than the package directed.These were superb! Not super inventive, I know. But I’d been busy and hungry!

I used a number of sausages, like this Pork link, in breakfast dishes:It was almost impossible to pick a favorite!

And then something wonderful/terrible happened. The holidays started to ramp up, and I got super busy volunteering at the Food Bank and on some days lunch looked like this:That’s a Smoked Chicken Brat lounging in a Delicata Squash just before hopping into the microwave. (4 PointsPlus for those of us following WeightWatchers) I know it may not look glamorous but it was insanely delicious and kept me nice and full all afternoon. Because the sausages are pre-cooked, they are very easy and convenient to heat up and go.

It was so great to be able to enjoy sausages and cured meats again without an ill effects. I can’t wait to place an order this summer and grill away. Makes me glad I’m a carnivore!

What’s your favorite sausage recipe?

Disclaimer: Though I was provided with free product, this in no way affected my reviews. All opinions are my own.

You guys know I have extra love in my heart for my local companies. Whoot, Seattle!

So I was beyond thrilled when Sahale Snacks asked me if I wanted to host a holiday giveaway this season.

One lucky Carbzilla follower (Carbzillan? Carbzillite?) will win a sampler of Valdosta Pecans (5 oz.), Cashews with Pomegranate and Vanilla (4 oz.), Almonds with Honey + Sea Salt (4 oz.), Tuscan Almonds (4 oz), plus a Sahale Snacks apron!

Package size may vary. (TWSS)

Here are four ways to enter:

• Follow Sahale Snacks on Twitter and let me know you did
• Follow Me on Twitter
• Tweet this giveaway: “Carbzilla is nuts about @SahaleSnacks & giving them away here http://goo.gl/UFPDW” (Feel free to compose your own tweet with link)
• Leave a comment below telling me your favorite nut or dish you like to use nuts in!

Giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ and closes at NOON on 12/15/2010. There is no guaranteed Christmas delivery (though Sahale will try their darndest), but how great would these be to serve at New Year’s Eve?

Good luck!

Yes! I have TWO giveaways going on right now. Check out my other one HERE!

Happy Holidays from Carbzilla! Enter to win an Instant Read Thermometer from Pyrex, a slotted spoon from Calphalon, my favorite chocolate bar from Seattle’s own Theo Chocolate, AND a $25 gift certificate from Chefs Catalog! There will be surprise goodies to boot!

Two ways to enter:

First: Leave me a comment here with your best advice for organizing your digital blog photos OR just tell me what you’d use any of the above items for.

Second, for an additional entry: Tweet about this giveaway by posting “@carbzilla is giving away some kitchen goodies here! http://goo.gl/NITm8“

This giveaway will close on Sunday, December 12 at midnight. Open to US and Canadian residents. Winner will be chosen randomly, and I will do my very best to get everything sent out quickly but no guarantees for Christmas arrival.

Good luck!

I’m just as amazed it’s December as the next person. How did this happen? I was at the mall yesterday and Christmas carols were already playing. Yesterday was still November. I tried to hold on to November as long as I could, but I blinked and it was gone.

I have some super fun blog stuff lined up if I could just get to it. Tonight I have my last *sniff* Sustainable Business class so I’ve had some things due for that (including a batch of Mama Pea‘s chocolate chip cookies as my parting gift). Doesn’t it seem like yesterday that I was accepted to the program?

The other exciting news is that I started back on Weight Watchers on Monday. I can’t say enough good things about their new program. I will be raving about it like a lunatic so stay tuned. Danica rallied the troops, and we have group support coming out our ears which, combined with a great new program, will equal success! I’ve already lost two lbs which was basically my Thanksgiving blip!

So what have I been eating?

Well, yesterday I had lunch at my friend Becky’s house. She’s a very healthy cook so I wasn’t too worried about fitting whatever she made into the plan. Especially since I now have ELEVEN more Points than I would have had under the old plan. Not to mention the 49 extra Weekly Points (up from 35).

Pesto Pasta with Salmon Patty

Under the old plan, this dish might have sucked up every Point I had. WW counts oils very high (It’s basically a low-fat plan, but it’s more adaptable than ever for those of us who need our healthy fats) and pesto is 31 points for a cup! I counted this meal as 17 points, and it kept me full through dinner. On the old plan, I got 18 Points for the whole day!

For breakfast this morning I was craving an old friend: oat bran.Fruit is now ZERO points on the new plan. This is a HUGE change considering this much banana may have counted as two Points in the past. Believe it or not, two Points here and there made all the difference when you only had 18 to begin with! I don’t even really eat bananas because they’re not great for my reactive hypoglycemia, but I felt they were safe when combined with the oat bran and almond butter (Point total: 6).

So far the program has been great and super easy to follow (though I’m a seasoned WW of 20 years or so). I haven’t done a lot of planning, but I look forward to finding and trying some great recipes. If anyone has any questions about the program, please let me know.

Coming up soon (I promise)…an awesome giveaway and some terrific products! Hope everyone has a fabulous December 1st!

Don’t forget that Blogger Babe calendars are still available here! They make a great Christmas present!

Update: I was wrong about the banana being ok for me. I worked out for 30 mins and then was a shaky mess. I had to have a second breakfast of a scrambled egg (2 pts) and some Delicata squash (0). Lesson learned.