Dirty South Sausage Balls

Ingredients

• 2 lbs bulk pork sausage (half mild and half spicy)
• 1/2 lb softened cream cheese
• 1/4 cup snipped chives (or substitute green onions)
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper
• 1 lemon, juice of
• 3 cups panko
• 1 lb frozen puff pastry, thawed
• scallion (to garnish)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400°F

2. 2

   In large bowl, combine pork sausage, cream cheese, chives, cayenne, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Fold bread crumbs into meat-cheese mixture until fully combined. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls.

3. 3

   Wrap a 1 ½ -inch square of puff pastry around each ball, stretching to cover. Pinch seams to seal. Place seam-side down on greased cookie sheet and bake at 400 F for 10 minutes. Serve garnished with chopped or julienned scallions. Makes about 24 small balls.

4. 4

   To freeze: Freeze unbaked balls. Bake them (still frozen) at 375 F for about 17 to 20 minutes, or until browned.