Recipe: Sausage and Fontina Cheese Dunking Balls

Sausage and Fontina Cheese Dunking Balls

Favorite flavors come together for bite-sized sausage nibbles for dipping in spaghetti or pizza sauce. Try them for your teenager's next sleepover, or for a family Friday supper.

1 lb. Italian sausage
1 cup buttermilk baking mix
2 cups shredded fontina cheese
1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds
1/4 cup minced onion
1 cup seasoned tomato sauce, heated

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a jelly roll pan (15x10x1-inch) with foil; spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.

In food processor, combine sausage, baking mix, cheese, fennel and onion; process with on-and-off pulses to blend. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls; place in pan.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until meatballs are no longer pink in center. Serve warm with toothpicks and tomato sauce.

Makes about 48 servings
Source: National Pork Board