Ingredients:

• 6 mini waffles    
  • Readily available at most grocers either frozen or fresh on the bread aisle.
  • Waffles from your own waffle iron work just as well if you prefer.
• 6 Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage Patties
• 12 slices provolone cheese
• 6 tablespoons crumbled pecan pieces
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• maple syrup
• green apple slices
• strawberries 

Directions:

1) To prepare candied pecans, melt butter in nonstick skillet and immediately add the sugar. Stir over medium-low heat until well blended and add pecans. Continue cooking about 3-4 minutes or until pecans begin to brown. Transfer to a bowl.

2) Cook sausage in air fryer according to directions or by your preferred method. Careful not to over cook.

3) Heat waffles according to directions. Place waffles onto plates and top each with a slice of sausage.

4)  In the same skillet, working in batches if necessary, place two slices of cheese - one atop the other directly to pan and cook for  30-40 seconds just until cheese begins to melt. Using a spatula transfer melted cheese to waffles. Drizzle with maple syrup or hot honey and serve with green apple slices and strawberries.

Tip: If you’ve never pre-melted cheese this way, it can be a game changer for other dishes such as grilled cheese where the bread can sometimes get cooked before the cheese is sufficiently melted. 

Ingredients:

• 6 Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage Patties
• 2 Roma tomatoes diced and salted
• 1 tablespoon argo or pectin (optional)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup garlic aioli (store bought or see quick & easy recipe below
• 3 large slices of sourdough bread
• 6 oz smoked gouda sliced into 10 slightly thick slices
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter

Quick & easy garlic aioli recipe:

• 3 garlic cloves grated or smashed to a paste
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice (more to taste)1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 3/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

1) For the tomato jam, heat olive oil in heavy sauce pan until shimmering. Add diced tomatoes over med-high heat. Allow to cook down for 2 -4 minutes stirring occasionally and then add the sugar.

Continue to cook on med-high for another 2 minutes until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and add in argo or pectin if using.

-    Addition of thickener does not affect taste but does add body making to easier to spread.

Continue cooking on low, stirring occasionally, while assembling the rest of your sandwich. Can be made ahead and stored in fridge.

2) Using the back of a large spoon or the bottom of a glass smash the sausage patties until they are about 1/2 the width and edges have begun to break apart and “feather.” Cook slices in air fryer reducing normal cook time by one to two minutes as they will cook faster being thinner. The same rule applies if cooking in a frying pan. Do not over cook.

3) Choose three of the largest slices of bread from the center of the loaf and slather aioli liberally onto one side of two pieces and onto both sides of the third (center) slice.

4) Place cooked sausage patties in a row, overlapping edges slightly if necessary onto the bottom and the center slice of the sandwich.

5) In a frying pan over medium heat arrange five slices of gouda into a crescent shape mimicking the shape and size of your bread slices. Cook for 30 - 40 seconds or until the cheese just begins to melt around the edges*. With a spatula quickly lift the melted cheese from pan and place over sausages. Repeat the process for your second layer.

6) Spoon tomato jam over cheese on both layers and assemble the sandwich by stacking the layers. Press down softly to blend the layered elements.

7) In the frying pan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and swirl to coat pan. Place sandwich in pan over medium heat and grill until outside of bread is golden brown. Add remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and flip sandwich to grill opposite side. Once done cut sandwich in half or even into thirds and serve with dill pickle spears, sweet potato fries and remaining tomato jam as a dipping sauce.

Tip: If you’ve never pre-melted cheese this way, I\it can be a game changer for other dishes such as grilled cheese where the bread can sometimes get cooked before the cheese is sufficiently melted. 

Quick & easy garlic aioli recipe:

Combine garlic, lemon juice and salt in a blender or food processor and allow to sit for two minutes. Add eggs and blend until smooth. With blender/processor running, slowly add olive oil in a thin, steady stream until well blended.

Ingredients:

• 6 Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage Patties
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup 2% milk
• salt to taste
• 12 slices sandwich bread
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
• 6 tablespoons whipped butter (room temperature)
• 3 oranges
• zest of one orange
• raspberries for plating
• powdered sugar (approx. 1 tbsp to sprinkle on top)
• 6 springs fresh mint

Directions:

1. In a bowl or shallow dish that will fit the bread, whisk the eggs, milk and a pinch of salt until bubbly.

2. Add first two bread slices to the egg mixture and soak. Turn a few times until mixture is fully absorbed.

3. Using a cookie cutter or top of a glass approximately 4” in diameter cut the bread slices into rounds discarding remaining crusts.

4. Set a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and swirl around to coat bottom. (If using a skillet large enough to hold four slices at once double the oil.)

Slide a spatula completely under slice and gently set bread into pan. Cook approximately three minutes or until pieces are golden brown on bottom. Flip the slices and reduce heat to medium-low until browned, approximately 2-3 minutes. Repeat process until all bread is browned.

Tip: Turn on oven to lowest heat and place cooked bread slices in oven to keep warm while preparing remaining slices.

5. Once bread is cooked, place six pieces of sausage in air fryer and prepare according to cooking directions on box.

6. Arrange six toast slices on a platter. Place a dollop of ricotta on each piece and spread with the back of a spoon. Place slice of sausage on top of ricotta and top with a dollop of whipped butter. Drizzle lightly with honey, sprinkle with orange zest and top with another slice of French toast. Dust all with powered sugar and serve with orange slices, raspberries and a mint sprig if so desired.

Ingredients:

• 10 Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage Patties, cooked per cooking instructions and cut into quarters
• 1 block (8 ounces) feta cheese cubed
• 8 ounces cherry tomatoes
• fresh basil leaves
• tzatziki
• hummus
• marinated artichoke hearts
• mixed olives
• crispy fried chickpeas
• carrot sticks
• warm pita wedges
• fresh herb variety
• chili oil
• Zatar

Crispy Chick Peas

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups canned chickpeas , well drained
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoon curry powder
• salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Tzatziki

• 3 English cucumbers
• 2 cups whole milk Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoon finely chopped dill ( or 2 tsp dry dill weed.)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 clove of garlic minced
• salt & pepper to taste

Quick Hummus

• 2 garlic cloves
• juice of 1 lemon, about 1/4 cup
• 1 (16 oz) jar tahini
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1-1/2 cups ice water
• 2 (15oz) can chick peas

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

1) Wrap several pieces of pita or naan tightly in aluminum foil. Put on an oven safe plate or pan and place in preheated oven 5-10 min, to warm.

2) On cocktail skewers alternate sausage quarters with cubed feta, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil leaves. Arrange in two groups at opposing ends on your board.

3) Fill bowls with tzatziki, hummus and fried chickpeas. Place on board or serve on table around board depending on the size of your board.

4) In small groupings, add artichoke hearts, carrot sticks, mixed olives and sprigs of fresh herbs on board

5) Drizzle entire board (especially the skewers)with chili oil and serve additional oil in a small bowl on table. Sprinkle board with zatar and/or sumac.

6) Remove pita from oven and slice into 8ths. Nestled fan stacks of pita slices into open areas on board and add any remaining slices to a bowl on the table. 

Crispy Chick Peas

1) Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil begins to shimmer add the chickpeas and cook, stirring occasionally until brown and crisp, approximately 10-20 minutes.

2) Sprinkle with spices, salt and pepper until spices are toasted and fragrant, 2-3 minutes. Serve warm if possible.

Tzatziki

1) Using holes of a large box grater, grate cucumbers. Squeeze cucumber with your hands to remove excess water and place in a medium bowl.

2) Add yogurt, dill, lemon juice and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.

Note: Store-prepared Tzatziki dip will work and available at most major grocery retailers

Quick Hummus

1) Add garlic and lemon juice to food processor. Add tahini, salt and cumin. Process about one minute until mixture resembles peanut butter. With motor running slowly stream in ice water until mixture is creamy.

2) Add the chickpeas and process for approximately 3 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as necessary until chickpeas are completely blended.

Transfer to a bowl, making a small well in center with the back of a spoon, and fill with mixed olives and olive oil and sprinkle with cayenne.

Tip: If mixture is too dry with motor running slowly add olive oil until desired consistency is reached.

Note: Store-prepared Hummus will work and several flavor varieties are typically available at most major grocery retailers

Ingredients:

• Hawaiian sweet rolls
• 4 Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage Patties
• 1 pineapple cored and sliced into 1/2” slices
• 4 oz white cheddar cheese cut into 8 thick slices
• Asian BBQ sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup rice wine (or white wine) vinegar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 3 star anise
• 1 teaspoon course ground black pepper
• 6 radishes thinly sliced
• 1 carrot shaved
• 3 whole scallions chopped on diagonal

Directions:

Set oven to warm.  

1) For the salad: Bring water to boil and pour into a heatproof bowl. Mix with vinegars, sugar, salt, star anise and pepper and mix until sugar is dissolved.

Arrange prepped vegetables in a glass bowl and pour the vinegar mixture over them being certain vegetables are covered. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and place into refrigerator for at least an hour and up to a week.

2) Heat a grill pan on stove over high heat until extremely hot and place pineapple slices onto pan. Grill for 3-5 minutes, flip slices and grill for another 3 minutes. Put slices on an oven safe plate or pan and place in warm oven.

3) Cook sausage patties in an air fryer according to directions (or fry in a pan if preferred.)  Do not over cook. Place sausage into oven with pineapple to keep warm.

4) Dress Hawaiian rolls liberally with Asian BBQ sauce and place onto a baking sheet. Place a slice of pineapple onto bottom half of each roll. Add two slices of cheese topped with a sausage patty and add additional BBQ sauce.

5) Raise oven temperature to 350F. Place aluminum foil over sandwiches and heat in oven 10 -12 minutes.

Serve with pickled salad. 

Ingredients:

• 2 packages puff pastry dough
• egg yolks + 1 whole egg (reserve egg whites)
• 6 Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage Patties
• 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar/Monterrey jack cheese
• 1 7 oz can pickled jalapeños sliced
• salt
• pepper
• salsa roja
• salsa verde
• refried black beans 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

1)  Grease pan liberally with cooking oil spray.

2) Lay first, room temperature puff pastry dough onto cutting board and roll out slightly to approximately 1/3 larger.

3) Using a 5” diameter cookie cutter cut as many circles as possible out of dough. Reserve residual dough. Place dough rounds into muffin pan pushing dough as far up sides as is possible without breaking the dough. It is not necessary that dough reaches top or that all sides are even.  

Repeat process with second sheet of dough cutting as many rounds as required for six and line cups. Combine residual dough with residual dough from first sheet and set aside. 

4) Separate six egg yolks from whites into two bowls and set egg whites aside. 

5) Cook six sausage patties in air fryer according to directions or by your preferred method. Reduce cooking time by 2 minutes as the sausage will continue to cook in oven.Do not over cook. 

6) Add 3 tablespoons shredded cheese to each cup (about 1/2 full when pressed down).  

Carefully transfer one egg yolk into each cup. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add three sliced of peppers being careful not to break yolk and then top each cup gently with a sausage patty.

7) Roll reserved puff-pastry dough into a ball and roll out thin - sufficiently to cut six 3 1/2” rounds with a cookie cutter. Place rounds over top of each cup. Press any overlapping dough down into cup around edges.  

8) Add one whole egg to reserved egg whites and beat with a fork. Brush egg over tops of dough liberally.

9) Place pan in oven and cook for 20 minutes turning half way through. Puff pastry will be crusty and browned. 

Serve warm with bowls of red and green salsa and refried black beans.