Mama’s Sausage-Pecan Balls |
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Prep Time: 60 Minutes Cook Time: 25 Minutes |
Ready In: 85 Minutes Servings: 6 |
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Bon Appetit, Y’all; better to use block cheese you grate yourself, rather than pre-grated cheese. Ingredients:
1 cup pecan halves |
10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese |
2 cups all-purpose flour |
2 teaspoons baking powder |
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt |
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper |
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature (crisco) |
8 ounces raw mild pork sausage |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add pecans to the work bowl of a food processor fitted with metal blade.
3. Pulse until chopped, but not too finely.
4. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
5. Replace the blade with the grating disc and grate the cheese; remove cheese to a second bowl; set aside.
6. Switch back to the metal blade (no need to clean bowl) add flour, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to bowl of food processor; pulse to combine.
7. Add in the shortening and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
8. Add in the grated cheese and the sausage; pulse until well combined.
9. Transfer mixture to a bowl; add in the reserved pecans and, using your hands, press the dough together until well combined (the dough will be very crumbly).
10. To for the balls, use a small ice cream scoop and your hands, shape mixture into 1-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
11. Bake 20-25 minutes, until browned; remove to a rack to cool; serve immediately.
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