Homemade Summer Sausage

My hubby decided to make some summer sausage for the first time this past week - and I must say it is so good - WAY better than any you can buy at the store! It's so moist and has great flavor - if you love summer sausage and you've got some time, I encourage you to make your own too!

Most recipes call for solely using ground beef but he had the idea to use a mixture of pork and beef. He used this recipe from Allrecipes.com and tweaked it a bit to meet his needs and ingredients.

Summer Sausage

3 lbs Ground Beef
5 lbs Ground Pork Shoulder
8 tsp Morton Tender Quick
1/4 cup Mustard Seed
3 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 Tbsp Red Pepper Flakes
1 Tbsp Salt
1/4 cup plus 1/2 tsp Hickory-flavored Liquid Smoke, divided
1/4 cup Brown Sugar, lose not packed (optional - gives a nice sweet glaze)

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until fully incorporated. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for three days, mixing well once per day.

On the fourth day, preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Shape the mixture into logs (we made 7) and place on a wire rack over a large drip pan, or foil lined bottom oven rack. Put 1/4 hickory-flavored liquid smoke in an oven safe bowl on bottom oven rack (optional but it gives the meat that extra nice smokiness) and sprinkle brown sugar over top of logs. Bake for eight hours at 200 degrees.

Remove and set on paper towels to cool. Let logs cool completely, then individually wrap in plastic wrap. Chill completely before slicing. Store in the refrigerator or they also freeze very well.

Doesn't that look yummy? You know you want some! It's super easy to make so get out there and do it!