Hot Italian Sausage

Ingredients: 450 g ground pork; 2 tsp ground fennel; 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1 1/2 tsp brown sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/4 tsp hot-red-chili flakes (optional) Directions:

1.

Stir together all ingredients in a bowl. Divide into 2 portions. Roll each portion into a log about 7 in. long. Wrap tightly with wax or parchment paper. Twist ends. Freeze at least 2 hours or up to 3 months. To use, remove from freezer and let stand for 20 min. Use a serrated knife to cut into 1/4-in. rounds. Pan-fry in 1 tsp olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium, about 2 min per side.

2.

3.

Three ways to switch it up: 1. Honey-garlic sausage - Omit fennel and chili flakes. Add 1 tbsp honey.

2.

Farmer's breakfast sausage - Omit fennel and chili flakes. Add 1 1/2 tsp crumbled sage leaves and 1/4 tsp nutmeg.

3.

Cuban-spice sausage - Omit fennel and chili flakes. Add 1 tsp each sweet paprika and cumin and 2 tbsp chopped cilantro.