How to Make Italian Sausage

Ground Italian Sausage main pic

Easy Italian Sausage

You’re going to love learning How to Make Italian Sausage.  This is, of course, a sweet and spicy recipe that can be easily adjusted to your specific tastes and, most importantly, reveals the secret to actually making it taste like sausage instead of just seasoned ground pork.

The secret lies in 3 places.  First, the sausage has got to have a 2 to 1 ratio; 2 parts meat and 1 part Fat and in this particular case it’s 2 parts Pork Picnic Shoulder Muscle(which is very tender) and 1 part Bacon or Fat Back.  If you’re wondering what Fat Back is, it’s just exactly what it sounds like; the Fat in the back of the pig; which is where bacon is derived from anyway so why not just use bacon.  Plus, for me personally, I can’t get Fat Back where I live without ordering a minimum of 60 lbs and I’ll never make that much sausage.

The Second secret is the ingredients.  This means any kind of sausage you want to make, whether it be Breakfast, Italian, or Chorizo etc., will all depend on the ingredients, or seasonings, going into the 2 to 1 ratio.

The Third thing is all about the binder.  The binder is what fuses the meat and ingredients together and keeps them from falling apart.  I’ve also found that it’s a big part of the the seasoning which also effects the performance in the sausage when it cooks.

Italian Sausage Patties Main pic

For example:  Most Italian Sausage recipes add a red wine and vinegar combination as a binder, which is fine, but this creates a bitter taste so you have to compensate with a sweetener, like sugar.  But I have found that Corn Syrup works even better and I add Vegetable Shortening.  Why the Shortening?  Cooking the sausage without it leaves the meat very dry.  It leaves an added quality to the sausage that improves the flavor and adds a moist tenderness to the meat when it’s done.

If you’re interested in more of my recipes with sausage in them, check out my Egg Noodle Lasagna and my Spaghetti with Meatballs.

Italian Sausage Ingredients:

2 lbs Pork shoulder Cusion Meat
1 lbs Bacon
6 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup Fresh Parsly, chopped
1 tbsp Fennel Seed
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tbsp Paprika
1 tbsp Red Chili Flakes
Salt and Pepper to taste, approximately 1/2 tbsp of each

Binders

1/3 cup Corn Syrup
1/4 cup Vegetable Shortening

Be sure to watch the short video tutorial and I will show you exactly how to make this Italian Sausage.

Thai Red Curry Shrimp – Spicy Prawns Recipe

Thai Red Curry Shrimp Main pic

This Thai Red Curry Shrimp recipe was just the thing I needed to film this week. With Independence day just around the corner, I thought a spin on the traditional “Shrimp on the Barbee” was in order.  Though I pan fry in this video recipe, there’s no reason why you couldn’t take these straight to the grill after the Prawns are marinated.

I lucked out at the super market when I found these whole jumbo shrimp with heads.  That’s not normally how I buy them.  But they give that Awe and Wow effect when they’re served this way.  And just so you know, you don’t have to have whole jumbo’s .  Just use what you’ve got and what’s available.

Also, if curry and/or spicy shrimp recipes are you’re thing, you might want to check out the Curry Chicken Salad and the Firecracker Shrimp recipes I’ve listed below!

CLICK HERE for Curry Chicken Salad
CLICK HERE for Firecracker Shrimp

Thai Red Curry Shrimp Ingredients:

1 lbs Jumbo Shrimp, Whole (8 to 10)

MARINADE
2 Garlic Cloves, chopped
2 tbsp Thai Red Curry Paste
1/4 cup Fish Sauce
1 Lime, juiced
1 tsp Kosher Salt

Splash of Sherry or White Wine when cooking the shrimp (about 2 tbsp)

Topping
3 tbsp Butter, melted
2 tbsp Thai Red Curry Paste
1 tsp Fresh Thai Basil, chopped
1/2 tsp Red Chili Flakes

For the Topping, combine the melted butter with the curry paste, add a pinch of Kosher salt, the Chili flakes and chopped Basil.

Tamale Recipe – Kalua Pork Tamales

Tamale Main pic 1

The Best Tamales

These Kalua Pork Tamales are INSANELY delicious.  Everything that you want in a perfect Tamale is right here in this recipe.  So in honor of today’s celebration of Cinco De Mayo I stayed up all night putting this video recipe together for your enjoyment.  I’ve been meaning to do it for quite some time now and I am so glad that this gave me the perfect opportunity to get it done.

Kalua Pork Tamale Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs Kalua Pork, shredded CLICK HERE
1/2 cup Chili Sauce, CLICK HERE
Corn Husks
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Cups Corn Flour (Masa)
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
2 cups Chicken Broth

Be sure to watch the short video tutorial and I’ll show you exactly how to make the most amazing Kalua Pork Tamales.