MINI ESSENTIALS: AWESOME SAUSAGE BITES

Mini Essentials: Awesome Sausage Bites image

I love these little bites because they can be served hot or cold. In addition, they are ideal for breakfast, or they can be used as an appetizer at your next do. You could even switch out the breakfast sausage for Italian sausage and have pizza bites. Versatile... Easy to make... Packed with great flavor... What could go wrong. So, you ready... Let's get into the kitchen.

Provided by Andy Anderson ! @ThePretentiousChef

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
8 ounce(s) ground breakfast pork sausage
1/8 teaspoon(s) ground cumin, or to taste
1/8 teaspoon(s) white pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon(s) oregano, dried
1/4 teaspoon(s) thyme, dried
1 ounce(s) colby cheese, freshly grated
1 sheet(s) puff-pastry dough
1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon of water

Steps:

PREP/PREPARE
Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
Chef's Note: Not all breakfast sausages are created equal. Some contain more fat than pork. To test out your breakfast sausage, cook up one patty in a skillet. If it winds up swimming in a sea of grease, you need another brand. Better yet, why not make your own. Here is a recipe for you: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/breakfast/meat-breakfast/early-morning-eats-homemade-breakfast-sausage.html?r=1
Add the sausage to a skillet over medium-low heat, and allow to slowly cook until any excess fat renders.
Remove from the pan, and drain on paper towels, and allow to cool.
Chef's Note: Don't completely cook the sausage, just lightly cook it to render some of the fat.
Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 375f (190c).
Thaw out the puff pastry, and lay on a clean, lightly floured surface, and cut in half.
Combine the sausage with the dried spices, and the cheese.
Chef's Note: I choose Colby cheese because it holds up to the baking process, and has a nice mild flavor that does not overpower the sausage.
Place the sausage mixture on one side of the puff pastry.
Roll the log together, until it slightly overlaps, and use some of the egg wash to seal the seam.
Chef's Note: You only want it to slightly overlap. If you have any extra, just cut it off.
Place seam-side down, and brush with the egg wash.
Cut into thick pieces, and then put the sausage bites on a parchment-lined baking sheet, fitted with a wire rack.
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake until golden brown, about 15 - 18 minutes.
PLATE/PRESENT
Serve while still nice and warm, and watch them disappear. Enjoy.
Keep the faith, and keep cooking.