Recipe: Saturday Night Supper of Fried Apples, Sausage and Biscuits

SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER OF FRIED APPLES, SAUSAGE AND BISCUITS

FOR THE BISCUITS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
3/4 cup milk
FOR THE FRIED APPLES AND SAUSAGE:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 apples of at least two varieties, such as Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Pink Lady, Stayman Winesap or Jonagold, unpeeled, halved, cored and cut lengthwise into 3/8-inch-thick slices
1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar
1 1/3 pounds bulk country sausage, formed into 8 patties, each 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick

TO MAKE THE BISCUITS:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the mixture is the consistency of coarse meal. Make a well in the center and pour the milk into it. Using a fork, stir and toss the wet and dry ingredients until the mixture holds together. Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead lightly 3 or 4 times, then let stand for 5 minutes.

Roll or pat out the dough 1/2-inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, cut out the biscuits. You should have about 16 biscuits. Arrange them, evenly spaced, on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden.

TO MAKE THE FRIED APPLES AND SAUSAGE:
While the biscuits are baking, melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When it begins to bubble, add the apples and stir for about 5 minutes, or until the apples begin to brown. Add the sugar to taste (the amount depends upon the desired sweetness) and continue to cook, stirring often, for about 20 minutes, or until the sugar is melted and beginning to caramelize and the apples are tender.

In a large, nonstick frying pan, fry the sausage patties over medium heat, turning once, for about 5 minutes on each side, or until cooked through and golden brown.

TO SERVE:
When the biscuits are ready, pile them into a napkin-lined basket and wrap to keep hot. Serve the sausage patties and apples on a warmed platter or on individual plates. Pass the biscuits at the table.

Makes 4 servings
Source: An Apple Harvest: Recipes and Orchard Lore by Frank Browning and Sharon Silva