Apple Rosemary Chicken Sausages with Sautéed Kale


Serves 6-9 (makes about 9 sausages)

INGREDIENTS

For the Sausage

2 pounds boneless & skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cloves garlic, chopped
½ medium yellow onion, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
2 tablespoon salt
1 medium apple (tart variety), chopped superfine
Casings of your choice

For the Sauté Mixture

Olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
6-9 apple-rosemary sausages, sliced into thick rounds
1 medium apple, chopped
1 large bunch purple or green kale, chopped
½ cup chicken broth
Salt

PREPARATION

For the Sausage

Mix all the sausage ingredients except for the apple in a large bowl, and refrigerate, about 2 hours. Using the finest blade on your meat grinder, grind all of the ingredients, following the instructions. Once the mixture is ground, mix the apples, combine well, and place mixture in the freezer.
Meanwhile, soak the casings in warm water, and rinse a few times. Using your sausage stuffer, slip the casing onto the stuffing tube, making sure you leave about 6 inches off the end of the tube- this is where you will need to tie the sausage off later. Remove the meat from the freezer, and place it in the body of the sausage stuffing machine. If all the meat does not fit (you must acquit, just kidding), place the rest back in the refrigerator until you are ready. Turn the machine on, and begin the process- air will be the first thing to emerge. As the meat begins to slide out, use one hand to maneuver the speed of the sausage output. Let the sausage emerge into one long coil- the links will be tied later in the process. When the sausage is done, turn off the machine, and tie up the ends- you can use meat or butchers twine. To make individual links, pinch a section together, then spin the links, and turn them opposite from each other several times, repeat this moving down the entire main link. Hang the links up so you can review for air bubbles. Using a sterilized pin or sewing needle, pop each section that has an air bubble with the pin, and the link should move flat and the air bubble should be released.
Hang the links for about an hour, and then refrigerate them covered in the refrigerator overnight. Use them or freeze them within about a week (in other words, use it, or lose it).

For the Sauté Mixture

In a large skillet over medium heat, add oil. Sauté garlic, stirring constantly, cook, 1 minute. Add sausages, and cook until almost browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add apples, cook, about 1 minute more. Then add kale, cooking an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, season with salt, and mix everything to combine. Turn the burner to low, and simmer covered, another 1 to 2 minutes. Uncover, and cook, another 1 to 2 minutes. Serve.