Sausage and Cheese Biscuit Hors d' oeuvres

Fried Bologna

While I do enjoy watching a good football game from time to time, part of that time spent must include an outdoor or indoor tailgate party to help pass the time. As I've gotten older tailgating usually involves a television and indoor or outdoor cooking. Usually during football season a bowl of hot chili takes the edge off of the Midwestern fall weather.

Game Day Chili

When my brother moved from Chicago to Mississippi he quickly developed a taste for all things southern, including the laid back, low and slow cooking and lifestyle attitude that goes with it. He quickly developed a taste for things like fried bologna sandwiches, Beaufort stew, pulled pork and ribs, and brisket just to name a few.

Pulled pork sliders

One day he asked if I had ever tried sausage and cheese biscuit balls. I hadn’t. He said that they were a big hit whenever they went to a Mississippi football game. I’m not sure who invented this recipe but it is often associated with a company that makes and sells breakfast sausage like Jimmy Dean or Bob Evan’s, or Bisquick.  I personally prefer Bob Evans brand over others so I’ll stick with that.

If you have a party store in your area, they have a large number of sports theme party supplies. Since I was doing football snacks I was thinking of football party supplies. We have a “Party City” near us and they even have sports theme party recipe ideas at http://www.partycity.com/content/football+party+food+ideas.do. I quickly found exactly what I was looking for football shaped party picks and table cloths for my sausage balls.

Sausage and Cheese Biscuits Ingredients

What you’re going to need:
1 pound spicy pork sausage, Bob Evan's preferred
10 ounces cheddar cheese, grated good quality
3 cups baking mix, such as Bisquick, or self-rising flour

to taste Sriracha hot sauce, or any hot sauce that you prefer

to taste Kosher salt  

Preheat the oven to 375°F
Options: You have many options when making these sausage and cheese bites. Just before they are finished baking you can brush melted butter on the outside and lightly sprinkle with garlic salt and parsley and put them back into the oven to finish baking.

Breakfast sausage

If you have a stand mixer, using the slow speed and the paddle attachment combine the uncooked sausage, Bisquick, cheese and a couple of drops of hot sauce to your taste. Be careful so that you only combine the ingredients and don't over mix. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and make the sausage balls 1 inch in diameter. Place the balls about 1 inch apart so that they don't grow together. If you don't have a stand mixer just mix the ingredients by hand.

Add flour to sausage

Place the trays into the oven and bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Don't allow to over cook. They will be tough if you do. Remove from oven and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt and serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

Add cheese to flour and sausage

Form 1 inch sausage balls

Sausage balls baked

Serve and may the best team win

Serving suggestion: 

If you like you can make a milk gravy dipping sauce to pour over or as a dipping sauce. 

Melted butter (bacon grease preferred)

Add flour to fat

To make the Milk Gravy you’re going to need:
1/3 cup hot bacon drippings, or melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cup milk
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Cook roux at least 1 minute

In a saucepan heat the bacon drippings until hot. Stir in the flour and cook for about another minute to get rid of the starchy flour taste.

Add in hot milk

Using a wire whisk slowly stir in the hot milk until until well blended. Continue stirring until the gravy thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Season to taste

Serve immediately in a bowl with a small spoon or spoon over the sausage balls. It's game time!

 

 © TMelle 2013