Onion & Garlic Brats

[smokeitall]

I made 25lbs of Venison Brats.  I used the Cabelas Onion & Garlic Seasoning for 25lbs, 12.5 lbs venison/12.5 lbs pork butt.  Casings came with the kit.  I am going to make a Polish Sausage next.

[Smokin Soon]

That looks great smokeitall, Thats a load! How do you like to cook your Brats?

[smokeitall]

I like them the best grilled....

Sometimes I will grill them up until they have a nice color and then put them in a crock pot full of beer and onions for a few hours.

Either way there is no leftovers.

[FLBentRider]

I ended up with a Cabelas Italian sausage kit in my stocking.

How are the kits to use ?

[smokeitall]

I ended up with a Cabelas Italian sausage kit in my stocking.

How are the kits to use ?

Sounds like my kind of stocking stuffer...

Kits are very easy to use, but mixing is the most important.  I plan on buying a large manual mixer soon.  I found a 20 lb at Cabelas on sale for $99 and with one of the $20 off coupons it ends up a pretty good deal for something that is $150 list.

[FLBentRider]

I was going to use my KitchenAid to do the mixing, I do not have the entire process mapped out yet...

Sounds like my kind of stocking stuffer...

Now if there was a stuffer in my stocking....

 

[drano]

smokeitall

Man, you've been busy!  Summer sausage, snack sticks, and brats.

I get my spices and casings from Frisco's on the south edge of Omaha NE.
http://www.friscospices.com/sausageseasoningmixes.asp
Great prices, and helpful staff. 
Beer brat 25 lb mix is $3.95 (I've made several batches of this--always a winner at this house).
Most other 25 lb mixes are $4-6. 
150 feet of collegen casing is $12. 

I guess I cheat on mixing.  I cut up the meat (pork blade steaks and beef chuck steak) into 1/2-3/4" by 2-3" strips, mix in spices and enough water until it gets real slippery/slimey, then grind it thru a 7mm plate.  Everything gets mixed as it is ground.  Then I stuff it.  I've done this with brats, several batches of summer sausage, and one batch of snack sticks.  So far, so good.  A mixer would be nice, but the load needs to be close to the designed size--too full or too empty, they don't work well (acording to the local Cabela's guys).  I make 12.5 lb batches right now.  May move up to 25 lb brat batches the next time. 

drano

[smokeitall]

Thanks Drano I am always looking for more places to get spices and casings.  I will def bookmark this one.

[HCT]

Smokeitall,
  You are driving me crazy with all the sausage. I am now on my second drool bucket.
Thanks for the posts, everything looks great!