Recipe: Summer Sausage (and homemade lunchables)

When I was a kid, getting a Lunchable was a rare and luxurious treat.  As in they were expensive and we almost never got them.  I remember feeling so cool whenever we managed to get one - particularly when the make-your-own pizza variety came out.

I haven't enjoyed a Lunchable in at least 15 years.  Here in NYC they are at least $6 a piece and at that price I'd rather pay for a full-sized sandwich.

While we were in Kansas over Christmas and visiting with Dan's family at his Grandma's house we had some super yummy homemade summer sausage.  Aunt Judy shared the recipe with me and even sent us home with the essential (never seen in NYC) ingredient called Tender Quick.

I whipped up a batch over the weekend and it was so crazy easy and so much more affordable compared to buying summer sausage.  Also super fun for making your own homemade Lunchable.  Try it!

Fair warning - the making and final product is not what I would consider "beautiful food" but it tastes good so trust that.  

Grandpa Wilson's Summer Sausage

The Stuff
- 2 pounds of ground beef (or deer burger - but HA! Brooklyn doesn't stock deer burger)
- 1 cup of water
- 2 Tbs. tender quick
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. liquid smoke
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- Pinch of salt

Get Mixin'
- Mix all ingredients thoroughly working all the liquid into the meat
- Divide mixture into three and form each portion into a long roll (I would call it a log)
- Wrap rolls in plastic wrap or foil (I did both) and refrigerate for 24 hours
- After 24 hours, unwrap the logs and put them on a foil lined baking sheet
- Bake for 45 minutes at 300 F (the meat will stay pink and some of the grease will escape)
- Remove from oven and let cool before wrapping in new plastic wrap and foil (freeze whatever you don't plan on using immediately)

The next day slice up your meat and serve with cheddar cheese and Ritz crackers for a homemade Lunchable.  Yumm!