Sausage

If you like meat with your breakfast, consider the world of sausages. There are many types that are suitable to partner with breakfast foods: sweet, spicy, made with pork, chicken, turkey, or beef, shaped into links or patties. If the sausages are fully cooked, you only need to heat them using any of the methods below. If your sausage is uncooked make sure you cook the meat thoroughly, as you would any meat. You can check for doneness by cutting into it to see if the meat is no longer pink inside.

 

You can also make your own sausage as easily as preparing hamburgers. Use the meats and flavorings that you like, which allows you to avoid high fat content, and shape them into patties; there is no need for sausage to be stuffed into a casing. Prepare a batch to keep in the freezer and then enjoy whenever the mood strikes you.

 

First, here are some methods for cooking prepared sausage whether you purchase it or make it, and then a recipe for home made sausage follows. The cooking time will vary considerably depending upon the size of the pieces and whether they are fresh or frozen sausage, so the times given are approximate and based on starting with frozen sausage. Fresh sausage will take a little less time to cook; just check it often.

 

Instructions: 

▪ Baking: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Place the sausage in a baking dish. Total cooking time will likely be around 20 minutes, but check after 10 minutes to turn the sausage and assess its progress.

 

▪ Broiling: Preheat the broiler, place the sausage on the rack of your broiling pan and cook for about 5 minutes, then check it. When the tops look brown, turn the sausage over and cook the other side. Keep turning to cook it evenly until the meat is fully cooked. Total cooking time will likely be 10 to 15 minutes.

 

▪ Pan frying: Place sausage in a frying pan over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes, then turn. Continue to cook, turning the sausage from time to time so it browns evenly on all sides. Total cooking time will likely be around 15 minutes.

 

Home Made Sausage

 

If you are a purist, you may want to grind your own meat, which you can do easily in a food processor or a meat grinder if you happen to own one of these tools.

 

For the best flavor to develop, make the patties at least a couple of hours ahead of when you want to cook them so the meat has time to absorb the herbs and spices. You can make them the day before serving and refrigerate overnight, or make ahead and freeze. You can also double the recipe and make plenty for the freezer.

 

SERVES 4

 

Ingredients:

1 pound ground meat: pork, chicken, turkey, beef, or any combination

1 teaspoon dried sage

1 teaspoon dried thyme

½ teaspoon fennel seeds

A pinch of nutmeg

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

Other options:

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes – for heat

½ to 1 teaspoon brown sugar – for sweetness

 

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Instructions:

▪ Put the meat in a bowl and sprinkle the spices over it. Use a fork to mix it all together, keeping a light touch and avoid compressing the meat by over mixing it.

 

▪ You’ll want to taste your handiwork to see how you’re doing by taking about a teaspoon of the meat and cooking it in a frying pan. Once it has lost the pink color and after it cools a bit it will be safe to taste and you can adjust your seasonings accordingly.

 

▪ Divide the meat into 8 equal portions and shape into patties. Refrigerate it until ready to cook, or wrap and freeze it.