Categories: Appetizers, Pork

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecan halves
• 10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature (Crisco)
• 8 ounces raw mild pork sausage

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Add pecans to the work bowl of a food processor fitted with metal blade.

3. Pulse until chopped, but not too finely.

4. Remove to a bowl and set aside.

5. Replace the blade with the grating disc and grate the cheese; remove cheese to a second bowl; set aside.

6. Switch back to the metal blade (no need to clean bowl) add flour, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to bowl of food processor; pulse to combine.

7. Add in the shortening and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

8. Add in the grated cheese and the sausage; pulse until well combined.

9. Transfer mixture to a bowl; add in the reserved pecans and, using your hands, press the dough together until well combined (the dough will be very crumbly).

10. To for the balls, use a small ice cream scoop and your hands, shape mixture into 1-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.

11. Bake 20-25 minutes, until browned; remove to a rack to cool; serve immediately.

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