A Little Taste of Home

I find myself a bit perplexed. Confused about many things, but on top of them sits my longing to be with family and the sigh of a nostalgic itch truly scratched.

Thanks to our US Postal System (or UPS), there are gifts under the tree-- for me, from my parents-- which is a very nice but by no means necessary facet of Christmas. As a gourmand shackled to longings for creature comforts... I find other sensory inputs equally if not more satisfying. A small glass of egg nog. The faint smell of pine in the living room. My mom's yuletide appetizer: sausage balls.

I grew up with a certain treat around the holidays, engimatically delicious munchables from a seemingly endless horn of plenty (while not going so far as to spoil one's dinner). My mom's sausage balls were uniquely savory, intriguing and entirely of her. Last year, aware that I'd be stuck in NY for Christmas, I asked her for the recipe. Mind-boggling in its simplicity, I duplicated it exactly.

Cooling on a cookie sheet in the kitchen are dozens of my mom's ought-to-be-patented recipe sausage balls. They're exactly as I remember them; every bit as good. I have a piece of home away from home.

I'm glad it's the only sensory input that can truly be duplicated, away from my family. I'd much rather see any presents beneath the tree accompanied by the people who gave them. I can't deny I miss them terribly.

The economy & my finances being what they are; I'm stuck in New York. But the house has a tree. Complete with presents, no less. And my mom's famed sausage balls in the kitchen. All I'm short is a few family members and a John Denver Muppet Christmas to make it complete.

Merry Christmas, folks. May you be close to the ones you love.




Mom's Amazing Sausage Balls

3 cups Bisquik
2 cups shredded Cheddar
1 lb. Breakfast Spicy Sausage (sliced out of its skin)

Mix in a large bowl until you have a consistent lump of doughy orange mix.
Roll into balls smaller than golf and/or ping pong. Arrange on cookie sheet w/ tin foil.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
15 minutes or so in the oven. (Longer is sometimes better.)

Let cool, enjoy. Toothpicks are a nice touch and spicy mustard makes 'em absolutely killer.
(Though I like them just as much au natural.)