Homemade Italian Sausage

[vinnyv]

there is a little italian store in downtown Omaha that makes wonderful homemade italian sausage. the recipe was secret for years and Frank Marino, the owner, told me that if 100 people made it, it would taste different 100 times. i've made it at home and it's very good, not as good as Franks, but acceptable.
frank uses pork butt thats cubed, he seasons and grinds. puts in casings.
my simple version:
2 lbs ground pork
salt
black pepper
fennel seeds
(if you like hot sausage add red pepper flakes).
spread pork out on a flat surface
sprinkle salt-as much as you want
sprinkle pepper- as much as you want
sprinkle fennel seeds- as much as you want.
mix well and form into patties.
these keep well frozen.
TIP: after seasoning, take a small amount and fry it and taste to adjust seasoning to you taste.
Note: Marino's has since gone out of business..he retired, the store was opened since 1923..with practice and seasoning adjustment i am getting the sausage to where i like it better than the way frank made it.
use can use boneless pork butt roast or boneless country style pork ribs or rib end roast...all of these cuts are very cheap..98 cents a pound to $2.48 lb..making sausage is fun and you'll take pride in the results.

[vinnyv]

I do have a sausage stuffer but i havent bought casings as yet to stuff the sausage. the patties taste just as good.