December 19, 2018

hallelujah sausage balls


These sausage balls have a story.

I was recording with Melissa Radke to be on her podcast. And we started talking sausage balls, as all good Southern women do.

And in our zeal comparing recipes and tips and little recipe secrets, we verbally crafted what would surely be the world's best sausage ball.

She said Red Lobster cheddar garlic biscuit mix. I said brown sugar and maybe a little dry ranch dressing mix. AND WE BOTH NEARLY FELL OUT.

As quickly as we hung up the recording call, I swiftly moved my feet to the nearest grocery to pick up the ingredients and make this sausage ball of our dreams.

I didn't style a pretty picture or sprinkle them with chives. I didn't even make a dunkin sauce of any kind. We just ate them. Inhaled them. Burned our mouths on them. Savored them. Rolled our eyes back and saw God. It was spiritual.

Hallelujah.

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HALLELUJAH SAUSAGE BALLS
-makes about 36, 1 1/2-inch balls-

1 lb. ground hot breakfast sausage
1, 8-oz. package cream cheese, room temperature
4-oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 cup Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing mix
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baker's half sheet pan with parchment. In a big mixing bowl, use a heavy spoon to combine the ingredients together. Chop, fold, and stir with all your might until well incorporated. Use a tablespoon measure or scoop, and roll 36-ish sausage balls, lining them up on the baking sheet. Hit the tops of them with course black pepper if you desire. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until the tops are just golden. Do not over bake. Allow to cool for 3 minutes before using a spatula to transfer to a serving dish. They are so tender and moist (NOT DRY! PRAISES!) that they'll fall apart if you try to eat them hot. So give them a minute. Then inhale!

You can roll the sausage balls in advance, cover, and refrigerate for 2-3 days before baking. You may also freeze and bake them within 2 months. But believe me. You won't have the discipline to freeze them or wait for them.