Rusk
Apparently Rusk has been used as the filler in these sausages. I use bread crumbs, or even biscuit crumbs both work well without the need for Rusk….but if you’re wanting an authentic sausage, give Rusk a go.
1 pound all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
5 teaspoons Double Acting Baking Powder
7 ounces water
butter
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Meanwhile, sieve all of the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Add the water and use your hands to form it into a dough. Smear some butter over a baking sheet. Roll out the dough until it is about 1/2″ thick. Transfer it to the baking sheet. Place in the oven for 10 minutes.
Remove the sheet, cut the dough into 1/2″ inch strips. Set each strip on its side. Lower the heat
to 375 degrees and then return the pan to the oven. Cook for 10 minutes. If the bread is nice
and firm, then remove and set aside. If it is still soft, then flip all the strips and place back in
the oven for another 5 minutes or so.
Let the biscuit sit out over night. You want it to be stale.
Toss a quarter of the biscuit pieces into a food processor. Process until they are fine.
Sieve the rusk into another bowl. Repeat until you have a cup of sieved rusk.
For the sausage:
5 pounds pork shoulder, chunks and then ground
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 cup rusk or crumbs
5 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons mace
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
I grind the meat up usually twice, then add the herbs and spices. Then I use my Kitchenaid, to mix it up perhaps adding a little more water to make the filling a little sticky.
I usually let the mixture age for a day in the refrigerator to let the flavours mix. Then I fry up a bit to give it a taste. Perhaps I add something I think is missing.
Keep things cold as you’re working.
When I’ve done my taste test, and all is okay, I form in to patties and freeze. Makes it handy to fry up a few on the weekend to have a sausage and egger. One of my favourite ways to have and egg. Or you can stuff the mix into some sausage casings.