I found the combat very samey for the majority of the game as well. A few fights here and there were more interesting, usually because of some scripted event so that I couldn't start with my usual volley from stealth.
You can recruit them as soon as you get the option to even if your party is full. You just send them to your stronghold if you don't want to replace a current party member
I like a nice spicy sausage. I'm a big fan of chorizo but my absolute favorite is a hot pickled polish sausage.
Also, still looking for this juniper sausage I had in Estonia
PS I'm looking into taking a sausage making class
When I was a kid mesquite was all anyone ever used and I was in awe the first time I actually saw a propane grill or even a grill that wasn't homemade
People would roam the desert collecting wood during the week then drive around selling it from the back of a truck