Sausage Sandwiches

Note from Cheri: This recipe is from Rachel Ray's fabulous book 30 Minute Meals: Comfort Foods. The book is a huge collection of all your favorites, made quick and easy to prepare. Giardiniera, called for in this recipe is Italian picked cauliflower, carrots, and peppers in brine. It is available in the Italian foods section of your local market. For more information about Comfort Foods, or to order through Amazon.com, click here.

4 sweet Italian sausage patties (1/4 lb. each) 12 ounces giardiniera (hot pickled vegetable salad), drained (see note above) a handful fresh Italian parsley 1 beefsteak tomato, halved, seeded, and sliced thin 1/2 red onion, sliced very thin a good drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil a splash of red wine vinegar pinch of coarse salt black pepper, to taste 4 leaves green- or red-leaf lettuce 4 crusty rolls, split

Serves 4 Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Place patties on hot pan and cook 6 minutes on each side. Patties may also be cooked over outdoor grill 6 inches from heat for the same cooking time. Combine giardiniera salad and parsley leaves in a food processor. Pulse into a fine relish. Toss sliced tomatoes and onions with a little oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. To assemble, coat bottom of roll with chopped relish and top with sausage, tomato and onion slices, lettuce leaf, and roll top. Serve with a chunky vegetable salad and oven fries or root-vegetable chips.