Posted in breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Food, Grilling, Main Dish, Skillet Meal

Homemade Savory Breakfast Sausage

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There is a small neighborhood grocery store not far from my home. It carries an assortment of staple groceries for local families needing a few things, without having to travel into town for a big shopping haul. After a late Friday work meeting, I stopped in to buy some milk and eggs for the weekend.
As I headed to the back of the store, I was lured in by the selection of fresh cut meat the butcher had displayed in the meat case. For a small market, this grocer always carries a wide variety of cuts that are quite reasonably priced. I purchased some chicken breasts, ground beef, and a few pounds of freshly ground pork.
This butcher incorporates just the right blend of pork cuts to make the perfect homemade sausage recipe. I knead lots of ingredients into a big bowl of ground pork and shape the mass into several round patties very similar to the familiar pre-packaged, national brand, sausage patties found in the refrigerator case in a typical grocery store. These homemade patties far exceed the flavor and tenderness of store bought sausage. Add your own ingredients to suit your family’s taste…

Homemade Savory breakfast Sausage Patties

2 pounds ground pork
2 teaspoons dried sage
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

In a large bowl, combine the sage, salt, ground black pepper, marjoram, brown sugar, crushed red pepper and cloves with ground pork. Mix well with your hands and form into patties, if desired. Sauté the patties in a large skillet over medium high heat for 5-7 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees and meat is no longer pink.
Note: You can use the bulk sausage to make this delicious Savory Sausage Crescent Braid recipe too!

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Posted in breakfast, Brunch, Food

Savory Sausage Crescent Braid

savory sausage crescent braid

Several years ago, I invited both sides of the family out for a New Year’s Day brunch. Preparing for the celebration, I scoured my cookbooks for some new and interesting recipes. This recipe caught my eye because the savory pastry looked so delicious. I quickly added it to the menu and was thrilled to find the recipe quite easy to prepare. To make the recipe my own, I made a few changes to spice things up a bit.
During the brunch, I noticed that the crowd was drawn to this luscious looking pastry braid…it didn’t take long before it was gone! It’s been a favorite recipe in my family ever since.

Savory Sausage Crescent Braid

Savory Sausage Braid

1 lb. Jimmy Dean’s original ground pork sausage
1 lb. Jimmy Dean’s hot ground pork sausage
1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
2 8 oz tubes of refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 Tbs. poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a skillet, brown sausage and drain
Add cream cheese and mix until cream cheese is melted; divide mixture in half
Cool completely
Open crescent rolls and arrange into two rectangles
Form a narrow log with sausage mixture; place down the center of each rectangle.
Cut several strips along the long sides of the rectangle
Alternate strips to make a braid design across the sausage log covering completely
Place on lightly greased cookie sheet
Brush with egg white and sprinkle with poppy seeds
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly
Cool before slicing