SUMMER SAUSAGE...IN SUMMER!

Cooking hot meals in the summer isn't appealing. But everyone loves summer sausage served with sliced cheese and crackers.

Here's a recipe I've used for many years. My family is crazy about it!

Homemade Summer Sausage

Ingredients:

5 lb ground hamburger (no lean burger)

5 Tbsp liquid smoke 

5 Tbsp Morton salt tender quick (found in dark blue bag in spice aisle)

2 Tbsp coarse ground pepper

2 Tbsp minced garlic

2 Tbsp mustard seeds

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients with your hands like making meatloaf. Cover and Refrigerate 24 hours. Take out and knead one more time then make 4 (14x2 inch) logs. Put them on a cookie sheet with 1-2 inch sides. Bake at 300 degrees for 3 hours. Take out and wrap in wax paper with aluminum foil around that. Refrigerate until well chilled. Serve by slicing and eating alone or with crackers and cheese.

NOTE: When rolling logs into shape, make sure you knead the meat and form a tight log so there's no cracks forming while baking.

Hope you enjoy it!

Nancy Mehl