WASHINGTON — Whether your preference is bratwurst or beerwurst, Polish or Italian, pork or turkey, there is no better time to reacquaint yourself with your favorite sausage — or to familiarize yourself with a few new ones — than National Sausage Month, held every year in October.
"National Sausage Month is a celebration of everything Americans love about these links —from the folklore to the flavor," says National Sausage and Hot Dog Council President Janet Riley. "Oktoberfest is under way. The weather is getting a bit cooler and we're in prime tailgating season. Sausage and October are a perfect 'link.'"
In honor of National Sausage Month, the Council has released a new, healthy recipe collection that is sure to warm you up inside as cooler temperatures arrive with Autumn. The recipes are: Healthy Make-over Mediterranean Sausage and Linguini; Mushroom Caps Stuffed with Salami/Pepperoni; Kielbasa with Apples and Red Cabbage; Stuffed Bell Peppers with Italian Sausage; and Sausage Picadillo Lettuce Wraps.
"This new recipe collection presents some traditional flavors we all love in new, healthier ways," Riley adds. "Some people falsely assume that sausage isn't necessarily a 'healthy' food. But the nutrition labels on these recipes prove otherwise. And while they are low in calories, they are high in flavor."
To download these recipes, including photos, or to obtain more information about National Sausage Month and the National Hotdog and Sausage Council visit www.hot-dog.org.
Also on the Council's site is a "Sausage Fame" section featuring movies, music and television shows that have showcased sausages. You can also download "A Guide to Beer and Sausage: Pairing and Recipes" (http://bit.ly/dvVdp1). In addition, the site features many more great recipes, and all of the facts, figures and photos you need to spice up your very own Sausage Month celebration.
"Sausages have been enjoyed for more than 2,000 years," Riley concludes. "In fact, sausage is mentioned in Homer's 'Odyssey' written in 800 B.C. This longevity is truly a testament to sausages' popularity and their staying power. As traditional as they are in many ways, they've become downright trendy in the last decade."
The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council is a project of the American Meat Institute in Washington, D.C. Established in 1994, the Council serves as an information resource to consumers and media on issues related to quality, safety, trivia, nutrition, preparation and recipes of hot dogs and sausages. It maintains the popular website, Hot Dog City at www.hot-dog.org.
Source: American Meat Institute