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Christmas is a-coming

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:04 pm
by Mike D
I will be starting my Christmas cake this week and I got thinking about the rest of my food list for this Xmas and came to the conclusion that I would like to do a "special" xmas sausage....any ideas anybody...(please do not suggest one made from Holly & Ivy :lol: :lol: )


I look forward to the suggestions !!


Cheers!!

Mike.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:50 pm
by wheels
You may find a useful recipe/advice here:

http://forum.sausagemaking.org/viewtopic.php?t=2452

And a discussion on this subject here:

http://forum.sausagemaking.org/viewtopic.php?t=3112

Weschenfelders do small 18/20mm sheep casings:

http://www.weschenfelder.co.uk/7chipolata-sheep-casings-1820mm-p-337.html

How about doing something with cranberries in?

Hope this helps

Phil

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 5:14 pm
by Mike D
Hi Phil,

Thanks for the links and the cranberries suggestion. I was thinking of something possibly a bit fruity / spicy. I did a cranberry sauce last year for the turkey and it was really zingy....cinnamon, orange, cloves etc in it...a very Christmassy smell.

I do like the sound Paul Kribs Christmas Chipolata...although I'd probably do it as a standard sized sausage. In fact, as I always do a sausagemeat type stuffing, I could make a huge batch and use half to stuff the bird and half to do sausages with. I'm feeling hungry now !! :(

What would team up well with cranberries?? (apart from Turkey)...beef?? Pork ?? Swan??? (only kidding :lol: )


Cheers,


Mike.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 5:32 pm
by wheels
Dunno, can't stand the flamin' things!

Can't see why pork and cranberry wouldn't work though?

Boring old me's going for my standard sausage with the dinner - maybe some chipolatas of different types for a buffet. I've got a pack of the small casings and, fortunately, have a 10mm stuffing tube - getting the former onto the latter should be fun though.

Phil

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 5:44 pm
by wheels
I've just been on Welsh Wizard's website - he's doing pork, orange and spices for Christmas. He also makes a pheasant and apricot one and does pheasant and cranberry pies.

I may have a try at pheasant and cranberry sausage - I'm smoking some pheasant breasts shortly - so could use the legs along with some pork belly for fat.

Phil

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:40 pm
by Davred
How about this.

Orange and cranberry stuffing

3 oz dried cranberries
2 oz butter, softened
1 onion, finely chopped
Juice and zest of 1 orange
4 oz fresh white bread crumbs
3 oz pork sausage meat
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves.

Prepare the stuffing on Christmas Eve.
Soak the cranberries in the orange juice and zest. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a low heat.
Add the onion and cook gently for 10 minutes until softened. Allow to cool.
Mix all the remaining stuffing ingredients in a large bowl. Season and add the cooled onions. Cover and refrigerate.

If the frost hasnt killed them off I sometimes add some chopped chives as well.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:47 pm
by wheels
Davred

Nice stuffing - but he's after a sausage (oh! Vicar) :lol:

So an orange, cranberry and thyme sausage? Wouldn't fancy it with pork - maybe game?

I have to admit I'm not a lover of orange with meat.

Phil

PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:51 am
by saucisson
Not a recipe, but an idea, what about a small jar of mincemeat for a spicy Christmassy sausage? I feel another Dr Dave experiment coming on :lol:

Dave

PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:23 pm
by Davred
OK how about a duck and orange sausage?

Now this is off the top of my head but duck being a greasy bird it should make good sausage.
Add some minced orange peel and a little of the juice/pulp and you could have a winner at best and the dogs dinner at worst.

PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:16 pm
by Mike D
Hmmmmm...there are a few suggestions there to get me thinking. I seem to be veering away from the cranberry and going for orange now. :? :?

When will Dr Dave be trying the mincemeat experiment??? :lol: Not forgetting that what we call mincemeat, originally had minced meat in it.

The duck & orange sounds interesting, but I'm not a great lover of duck. I think I'll have a trial run first with the pork, orange & spices. I'll have to dig out my Carols from Trinity CD to get the mood right, along with a couple of Taliskers.



Cheers,


Mike.

PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:25 pm
by saucisson
Mike D wrote:When will Dr Dave be trying the mincemeat experiment??? :lol: Not forgetting that what we call mincemeat, originally had minced meat in it.

Cheers,

Mike.


Tonight early enough?

I think I'll try pork, fresh nutmeg, white pepper, salt, a few mixed herbs and 4 different doses of sweet mincemeat.

Dave

PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:44 pm
by saucisson
600g mince
1tsp salt
1/4 loosely packed fresh grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
2 egg whites to help bind

Divide into 150g portions.
1) as is
2 ) add 1 tblsp mincemeat
3) add 2 tblsp
4) add 3 tblsp

make patties.

Apply to family:

1) was credited as a brilliant sausage mix (I'll have to remember that one :D )

2) a touch of spice, not convinced it's Christmas.

3) same as above.

4) Christmassy mince pie heaven :lol:

Somewhere between 3) and 4) may be something to aim at :) depending on what you are aiming for.

Dave

PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:49 am
by johnfb
Your lucky to have your own private family of guinea pigs :lol:

PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 9:54 am
by saucisson
One of them knocked over my experimental Christmas Mead all over the kitchen floor this morning so it isn't all good :lol:

Dave

PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 1:02 pm
by captain wassname
Maybe a bit Naff but you could try a Port and Stilton sausage made with pork.


Jim