Thursday, January 17, 2013

Jacques Pepin’s Pork Sausage Rolls with Potatoes, Onions & Tomatoes



One of the joys of having a recorder is to be able to record our favorite television series and watch them at our convenience. Jacques Pepin’s Essential Pepin is one of our favorites. The other night we watched him make a sausage dish and remembered fondly that Stuart, my brother-in-law, had made the very same dish recently and shared one of the sausage rolls with us. If it's possible, Stuart loves Jacques Pepin even more than we do.

Today I’m going to share some of the photos we took of the sausage rolls Stuart made instead of preparing the rolls myself because for the next several weeks I’m seeing a physical therapist who has put me on a very restricted schedule of what I can and cannot do right now in addition to therapy sessions that will last for possibly as long as a month. Neck pain has recently cropped up that stems from my chronic back pain and primarily I’m not too happy about it because I won’t be able to be out-and-about visiting your blogs as much as I would like. Pardon the pun, but it's a "pain in the neck" to have to be aware of how I'm holding my head all of the time. Of course my time allotted at the computer has also been drastically restricted and that of course will also affect the regularity of my posts. So if you don’t hear from me as much as usual for a while, you’ll know the reason and please don't forget me.



Jacques’ recipe is available on-line at his website Essential Pepin here and also in his book by the same name. This is an interesting recipe because instead of using casings to make the pork sausage, its wrapped in plastic wrap to create a log, then cured in the refrigerator for 2 days. In the cookbook he browned the sausage logs on top of the stove with onions and potatoes, which is how we cooked it. Meakin threw in some halves of cherry tomatoes for color as you can see in the photos. On the television series, Jacques showed an alternate method of cooking them which was to cook them in about 2 inches of water at 150 degrees on top of stove for one and 1/2 hours. Either way works very well.



The recipe called for black trumpet mushrooms, which Jacques finds in the woods around his house. If you don’t happen to have trumpet mushrooms in your woods, he suggests that you substitute dried porcini mushrooms, which are easier to find. When Stuart made his sausage rolls, he adapted the recipe by using a mixture of sliced shiitake, wood ear, porcini and oyster mushrooms and instead of pistachios, he substituted pine nuts. He also added a tablespoon of Italian seasonings.

This recipe makes two impressive sausage rolls that happen to also be very easy if you have the time to cure the sausage for 48 hours. When we prepared the dish, Meakin added the tomatoes to the potato and onion mixture when he cooked the sausages for fun as well as color and we served it with fresh spinach.

Thank you Stuart for helping me out and sharing Jacques fabulous sausage rolls you made for us.



This will be shared with Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farms, Miz Helen’s Country Kitchen Full Plate Thursday, Foodie Friday at Simple Recipes, Foodtastic Friday at Not Your Ordinary Recipes, Seasonal Sunday at the Tablescaper, and On the Menu Monday at Stone Gable.

Have a great weekend everyone. I hope to be back in full swing soon.

54 comments:

  1. Mouthwatering! This sausage looks so tasty and the vegetables are very appetizing.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Jacques is a favorite of Andrew's as well. This sauce is impressively delicious looking. I'm off to check it out.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  3. First and foremost...Sam, will be thinking and praying for success in alleviating your pain. Others may never know what pain you are in. Positive thoughts and wishes coming your way. Let this come to an end so you can go on enjoying your beautiful life. We love Jacques. He is just such a sweet man and cooking for him is as easy a breathing. The sausage roll looks beautiful and very doable. Hope to get reports of how you are getting along. Hugs. Susan and Dale

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  4. I am so sorry it's crept up the neck..I know all too well about how one holds one's head..I hope the therapy works well..I admire physical therapists.
    And I hope one day this is a thing of the past..
    I am going to send this post to Jacques.. he will like it ..the rolls look right up his alley..
    Forget you?
    Never!

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  5. So sorry about the neck pain. Take care of yourself so you are fully recovered.
    I think hubby will love this recipe and I'll give it a try. He LOVED the ham and cheese biscuits!!! And I am a fan of the pumpkin yogurt combo you posted several weeks ago.
    XXOO

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  6. Hi Sam!
    Sorry to hear about your neck pain-what a bummer!!! I hope you're feeling better;-)
    I am a huge fan of Jacques Pepin recipes- I loved watching his cooking shows on PBS and of course own several of his cookbooks filled with tasty but always healthy beautifully presented recipes with that French flair which we all love so much;-) Your Pork Sausage Rolls look over the top delicious-will have to give this recipe a try!
    Take care ;-)

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  7. Sam, Just want you to know that David and I are thinking of you and hoping that the neck pain will ease with time. I know it must be difficult for you to curtail your active lifestyle. Hang in there. You have lots of blogging buddies pulling for you. I love this recipe and I can just picture Stuart making it. I have a feeling this is something that David would enjoy experimenting with also. Thanks and tell Stuart thanks also.
    Hugs, Penny

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  8. Sam sorry that your not feeling brilliant but neck and back can set you back for some time. Just take care. This meal looks very yummy. Diane

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  9. I hate being confined. I know you must too, as you are a busy person. I hope you get well soon and all the therapy helps. We will wait. Take care. The sausage looks delicious. I just might give this a try. Thanks.

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  10. I love Jacques! And this looks delicious. I'm headed to look up the recipe now.

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  11. I am so sorry to hear about your health issues Sam. Life will get back to normal soon I am sure.I rarely make sausage but love this idea of making a sausage that can be sliced. I am sure I would make this often.

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  12. I do hope you are on the mend very soon. I simply love watching Jacques - he's such a lovely man and a wonderful chef - your dish looks sensational!
    Mary x

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  13. I am so sorry to hear about your ailment, and I hope that physical therapy will restore your neck promptly!

    The sausage looks delicious! I always loved watching Julia and Jaques, all their friendly bantering.

    Get well soon,
    Merisi

    P.S.: Maybe a tablet (iPad or the like) would be an ideal gadget during your healing? Just for reading, I mean.

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  14. Sam, I am sending you healing thoughts. I hope your neck feels better soon!
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  15. Sam - I'm so sorry you're having so much trouble with your back and your neck. I hope the physical therapy helps. I know back pain can be very painful and frustrating and I can't imagine adding neck pain into the mix. I will be thinking of you and wishing you the best. In the meantime, I know you're in very good hands. I get the feeling that Meakin knows how to treat a lady :)

    And, it does appear that you are eating extremely well! I love the looks of this sausage roll. I especially like that it does not have a casing. At the moment I am seriously dieting but when I take a break I will definitely splurge on this!!

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  16. So sorry about the back and neck problems. I hope you are better already.

    These sausage rolls look wonderful!

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  17. I am drooling, Sam. The sausage looks so succulent and great..and I love the veggies you served with it too. Beautiful!

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  18. Okay, I admit it, I've never heard of Jacques Pepin - PBS is not highly watched here. Having said that, I've have made sausage like that, without casings, and Stu's version sounds and looks outstanding. It's a great looking meal, and I'm having difficulty deciding whether I'd like the sausage or potatoes best - I suspect I'd just have to eat a couple of helpings of each to decide.

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  19. Sam, they look and sound great. And Pepin is pretty great too! I loved watching him and Julia Child cook together!!! I've made a couple of sausages many times and have to try this version now. Mine are not made in a casing either. That makes it so easy! Hope you are like new soon.

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  20. Your dinner looks great and very colorful! I hope you're feeling better soon Sam-take care:@)

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  21. Sending ~~relaxing~~get well~~vibes~~ your way, Susan. I'm sure a break from the computer will help. I had to lay off a bit with my shoulder & still limit my time in front of it.

    Please tell Meakin his photos of this wonderful meal are AWESOME!! I don't think we get Jacques on our cable TV here but I shall look up the recipe via your link. Thanks for sharing.

    Take it easy & I look forward to your return when you feel up to it.

    Gentle Hugs,
    Rett

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  22. So interesting. I love Jacques. As far as "sausages" go.... .this is a no brainer. People have not figured it out . . . that most sausages are .... simply ground pork with seasonings... How funny is that?

    http://www.kitchenbounty.com/2011/01/ziploc-sausages.html

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  23. I'm so sorry to read about your back and neck pain, Sam. I know how awful that can be. I hope you recover quickly and can get back to your regular routine very soon. Beautiful, mouth watering, photos.

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  24. Sorry to hear av out your neck pain Sam..I hope it heals soon..staying away from the computer and lifting pots and pan, kitchen stuff, will definitely help.
    Stuart's sausage looks delicious..I hope you get spoiled with many meals on a plate now for the time being!
    Ronelle

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  25. That looks delicious and I will follow the link to look at the recipe.

    But, most importantly, best wishes for a speedy recovery!

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  26. I totally understand about you not being able to spend much time on the computer as that could aggravate things even more. I hope your therapy goes well and you'll soon be yourself again :)

    What a delicious-looking version of a sausage roll!

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  27. This just makes my mouth water - the sausage looks so inviting! Hope you are on the mend very quickly, Sam!

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  28. Sam, sending up prayers and best wishes for an easy time with recovery. ((gentle hugs))

    I must say this recipe looks so good, I love so many of Jacques' recipes and look forward to trying this one (thanks to your beautiful pictures!) xo ~m

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  29. Those photos look stunning. I'm so sorry you're having neck and back pain, but glad you still took the time to share with us on Foodie Friday. I hope you get feeling better soon, and we'll still be here when you can come back.

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  30. Dear Sam, I'm so sorry about the pain in your neck. I hope that all goes well. No way will you be forgotten. Come back, when the doctor says it's okay. xoxo

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  31. So sorry about your neck pain, that really stinks! Hope it's better soon. I have found physical therapy to be quite amazing with some back problems I've experienced. Your sausage roll sounds so yummy. Thanks to your brother-in-law for sharing!

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  32. Well shoot Sam, I'm so sorry to hear about your "pain in the neck". I hope it's fixed very soon. I've not watched that show and have blurted out orders to hubs to do a search and record if found. I really like him. And thanks for the website. Heading over there now. What tasty looking sausage. I've made sausage once and used plastic wrap. It worked like a charm.

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  33. This sausage roll looks amazing take care of your back and neck... I hope you get better soon.

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  34. Good Morning Sam,
    I sure hope that you are not in pain today and that your condition will continue to get better. I am putting you on my prayer list.

    Jacque Pipin is one of my all time favorites and this Pork Sausage Roll looks like a delightful sausage roll, what a treat! Your helper did a great job.

    Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  35. I was looking forward to this one as soon as I saw it on Facebook. It sounds fantastic.

    Sorry to hear about your neck. My mother is FINALLY getting relief after numerous rounds of PT, medication regimens, and two surgeries for the past 18 months. I know how much that neck pain can impact your activities. I hope yours resolves extra quickly.

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  36. I used to watch Jacques Pepin's shows on TV many years ago, including those with his daughter, and of course, the shows with Julia, and am glad to see he's on again. I think he has the best "technique" of any of the chefs I know of. Watching him precisely cut up a whole chicken in almost the blink of an eye is a real treat and helps in learning your way around a cutting board.

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  37. I am sorry to hear of your neck pain. I have had to deal with the back and neck issues myself. PT does work, as I'm sure you've learned too - even though progress often feels slow as Christmas. For me, it's often not been till a year later, when I look back and realize how much it helped and how much I've progressed since a particular flare up. Hang in there, I know it's frustrating. And, these sausage rolls look positively scrumptious!

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  38. I hope you are on the mend Sam, it really does sound like a pain in the neck.
    I'll have to find this recipe, it looks delicious and would probably make for great leftovers. I wish I had black trumpet mushrooms in my backyard.

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  39. Saw this on Facebook, Sam....looked fabulous. Kudos to your BIL! Have always loved Jacques Pepin. He and Julia together were always special.
    So sorry to hear about your neck and back pain. Nothing is more debilitating. I hope the rest and therapy will result in big improvements. Will be thinking of you....

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  40. if it tastes as AMAZING as it looks I am all in! I am drooling! I am so sorry about your pain. I will definitely be praying for you ( and i don't say that lightly- I mean I will actually be praying for you) and hoping for a quick recovery!

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  41. I also love Jacques Pepin's recipes and these looks luscious - especially luscious and comforting when the high today is 0 degrees F. I hope you fell better soon and don't move those muscles too much! A blog break is always a good idea - even mentally!

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  42. Sam, this sausage looks heavenly! I can taste it! Thanks for sharing at Foodtastic Friday!

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  43. How could anyone forget you...impossible. Just take care of yourself. This sausage roll looks wonderful and I bet it would be good sliced and served cold like you would a terrine.

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  44. Congratulations!
    Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you are having a great week and enjoy your new Red Plate.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  45. Wow this looks delicious! I love Jacques, I've been watching him on PBS for years! He seems like such a nice man. I loved watching him and Julia! What a funny team they were!

    I think I've missed a few of your posts, I have to go back and check!

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  46. looks amazing hope your feeling better soon sweet lady big hugs

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  47. Jacques Pepin often wandered the hall of the FCI when I went to school - he's such an inspiration. This meal sounds delightful!

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  48. Hope the pain in the neck is improving. Keep well Diane

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  49. What a grand home-made pork sausage!
    This is so well flavoured too! :) A great dinner too!

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  50. Feel better Sam! We will still be here when you return.

    The pork sausage roll rocks-

    Velva

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  51. Sam,

    I, too, am just getting back to blogging and commenting on my favorite blogs after a December and January of dealing with my father's last month of life and then passing in January. But I am so sorry to hear that you have been having back and neck issues! I totally and completely understand and wish you the best of care. Although I still have 6 months more for complete recovery from my July back surgery, it is slowly and surely coming around. I am so grateful for modern medical technology and know that you are in the hands of a competent physician. Please do take care of yourself first and foremost . . . always. Something I was so very slow to learn and live by!

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  52. I'm sorry to hear about your pain! I hope with time, rest and physical therapy you will be feeling much better soon.
    Thank you SO much for this recipe. It looks fabulous!

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