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While hamburgers and hot dogs are traditional backyard grilling fare, sometimes you want something a bit different. More unique. More impressive.

Enter the skewer.

Also known as a kebab or kabob, the premise is simple yet elegant: thread a collection of foods onto a metal or bamboo rod and roast it over the coals.

But while it sounds simple, there are some guidelines that we think will help your backyard barbecue creations turn out fantastic.

• Cut all pieces into similar sizes to help them all cook evenly. If some foods are significantly smaller than others, they may be overcooked or even burned by the time the larger pieces are done.
• If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to threading and cooking. This will help keep them from catching on fire when placed on the heat.
• Don’t over-crowd the skewer. Food can be touching, but don’t pack it in too tightly. You want the heat to reach all parts of the food.
• Par-boil potatoes. If skewering potatoes, par-boil them to reduce the time needed on the grill. Otherwise, they’ll take a long time to cook and other veggies will be done far before your potatoes.
• Cook raw meat on a separate skewer. While skewers of meat and veggies look gorgeous, they’re harder to cook well since the meat and veggies often require different cooking times. You also risk cross-contamination by having raw meat touching your vegetables. The safest (and easiest) way to cook your skewers is to leave them separate. 

And now, here are some fun combinations to try with your favorite Isernio’s sausage:

• Hawaiian Skewers. Sausage, pineapple, and red onion basted with a teriyaki glaze.
  
• Mediterranean Skewers. Zucchini, peppers, red onion, and sausage served over grilled flatbread, sprinkled with feta, and topped with tzatziki sauce.
  
• Italian Skewers. Sausage, red and green peppers, and onions basted with Italian dressing.
• Pizza Skewers. Sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and cherry tomatoes basted with garlic and olive oil and served with marinara sauce.
• Cowboy skewers. Sausage, potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and small sections of corn on the cob, served with ranch dressing.
• Fajita skewers. Sausage, red & green peppers, red onion, and small sections of corn on the cob basted with butter and lime, and served with tortillas and salsa.

When cooking skewers, you’re only limited by your imagination. Experiment with different veggies, fruits, and sauces. And don’t forget your favorite Isernio’s sausage!

The holidays are a magical time – enjoying traditions with family and friends, visiting with rarely-seen relatives, enjoying all the treats that the season has to offer. This time of year we find that our homes, our hearts, and our bellies are full.

But with near-constant entertaining it can be hard to find time to search for the perfect recipes to serve your guests. Thankfully, Isernio’s sausages are super versatile and can be used in a number of different recipes. And, as our holiday gift to you, we’ve rounded up some of the best for your holiday table.

APPETIZERS

Hosting a casual get-together? Set out a bunch of appetizers instead of making a full-scale holiday meal. After your guests arrive it will be practically hands-off for you, and – trust us – everyone loves a good app.

Margherita Isernio’s Sausage Meatballs: Make these ahead of time and serve them in a crock-pot to keep them warm throughout your party. Or set them on a platter with their own little toothpicks for a bite-sized treat nobody can resist.

Sausage & Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms: Up the elegance with these delicious stuffed mushrooms that are packed with sausage, cheese, and savory goodness.

Spicy Sausage Wonton Cups: Crunchy wontons, creamy cheese, and just the right amount of spice make this an app that will disappear faster than you can say Merry Christmas.

Garlic Toasts with Sausage, Pepper, and Goat Cheese: A classic Italian combination of sausage and peppers atop a crunchy crostini come together for a perfect pre-dinner bite.

BRUNCH

When hosting brunch for a crowd, pick recipes that you can serve, and then sit down with your guests and enjoy. Avoid dishes (like crepes, omelettes, or waffles) that will require your ongoing attention to keep your serving plates full.

Pasta Frittata with Sausage and Mushrooms: This dish will have the “wow” factor that a traditional breakfast casserole lacks. Sausage, eggs, mushrooms, and cheese – with pasta for a unique flair. What’s not to love here?

Breakfast Lasagne: Store-bought hash browns make this dish a breeze, and a ton of veggies make this dish practically guilt-free. Plus it’s a beautiful, colorful addition to your brunch table spread!

Maple Sausage French Toast Bake: You don’t want to be stuck at the stove flipping French toast, but you can still serve it to your guests in the form of a casserole. Even better – you can make it the day before so all you have to do before your company arrives is pop it in the oven.

SAVORY SIDES

If you’re serving a traditional sit-down dinner we know that turkey or ham will probably be the star of the show. But these amazing sides are just waiting to steal the spotlight.

Stuffing with Sausage and Rum-Soaked Figs: Love traditional stuffing but just want to give it something…extra? Rum-soaked figs are just the non-traditional twist you need!

Green Bean Casserole with Sausage: Don’t serve the same old side. This recipe adds sausage to upgrade everyone’s favorite holiday veggie dish.

Wild Rice and Basmati Casserole with Sausage and Sage: Rice as a side dish gets a serious upgrade with this flavor-packed casserole.

It really is the most wonderful time of the year, and we love being a part of your holiday gatherings. How will you incorporate Isernio’s into your seasonal recipes?

Turkey may take center stage at the Thanksgiving table, but it’s the stuffing that everyone looks forward to eating. This year, kick up the flavor with a sausage stuffing that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Here are some of our favorite ideas to make your stuffing truly memorable – and with Isernio’s full line of pork, chicken, mild, and hot sausages you can make the dish uniquely yours.

Incorporate the Flavors of the Season

Apples, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and squash are signature seasonal flavors that also happen to pair perfectly with sausage. Incorporate these ingredients to add a hint of sweetness to the traditional savory stuffing. Tip: For recipes that call for “sage sausage,” just add ½ tsp of dried sage to plain sausage while you’re browning it to make your own.

• 5-Star Sausage Apple and Cranberry Stuffing (Wicked Good Kitchen)
• Classic Stuffing with Sausage, Sage, and Rosemary (Frank Isernio)
• Sausage, Fig and Cranberry Stuffing (The Merchant Baker)
• Harvest Sausage Stuffing with Pecans and Cranberries (The Chunky Chef)
• Gluten Free Stuffing (The Movement Menu)

Get Creative with the Plating

Think beyond the casserole dish and find cute, seasonal ways to serve your stuffing. Not only will your dish be delicious, but it will double as table decor, too.

• Sausage, Rice, and Cranberry Stuffed Mini Pumpkins (Inspired by Charm)
• Sausage and Stuffing Balls with Cranberry Dipping Sauce (I Should Be Mopping the Floor)
• Sausage, Cranberry, and Stuffing Pastry (Pepperidge Farm)
• Stuffed Acorn Squash with Apple, Cranberry, and Sausage Stuffing (Happily Unprocessed)
• Sausage Apple and Sage Stuffing Muffins (McCormick) – use chicken sausage instead of turkey

Try Something Besides White Bread

Sure, traditional stuffing is made with dried sandwich bread. But simply swapping it out for french bread, sourdough, or even cornbread can change the taste and texture of your dish. Or, you can do something completely unique and make a rice stuffing, which is perfect for your gluten-free guests. Try brown or wild rice for a more rustic, nutty flavor.

• Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing (Laura Fuentes)
• Ciabatta and Sausage Stuffing (Thomas Keller)
• Sausage and Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash (One Sweet Mess)
• Wild Rice Stuffing with Apple & Sausage (Eating Well) – use chicken sausage instead of turkey

Mix Up Your Technique

Chop, saute, mix, and bake. But what would happen if you did something out of the ordinary? Add some extra flavor to your sausage stuffing by browning the bread stovetop instead of baking it, or skip the oven altogether and make your stuffing in your slow cooker, leaving more room in there for the bird.

• Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing (Averie Cooks)
• French Toast Sausage Stuffing (Panna Cooking)
• Instant Pot Brown Rice and Sausage Stuffing (Confessions of a Fit Foodie)

You don’t have to settle for the same old stuffing. With a little creativity, seasonal ingredients, and Isernio’s fresh, flavorful sausage, you can turn it into a holiday show-stopper. How will you make your stuffing unique this year?

Is there a more perfect food for this season than soup? Whether it’s one of those impossibly bright yet blustery days where the wind steals your breath or a gray, drizzly afternoon that sends the chill deep into your bones, there’s no better way to warm yourself up from the inside out than with a thick, hearty, hot bowl of soup.

Not only are soups comforting, but they’re good for you, too. Because they’re so flavor-packed, it’s easy to incorporate more veggies into your diet – even if someone else at your table may be a little veggie-averse. Plus we all grew up believing chicken soup could help cure the common cold – and while the research isn’t definitive, there’s an increasing body of evidence that bone broth may help boost immunity and reduce inflammation. Which, in this season that’s notorious for rampant colds and other illnesses, certainly can’t hurt.

All that AND it’s a one-pot meal? No wonder we love soup so much! Here are some of our favorites for fall.

Sausage, White Bean, and Spinach Soup

This thick and satisfying soup is full of colorful veggies – and since you eat with your eyes first, it’s sure to satisfy all of your senses. Plus, it can be made exactly to your liking with hot, mild, pork, or chicken sausage. This one’s a winner all around!

Pasta Fagioli with Sausage

This hearty soup from Skinnytaste is actually meatless, but when we make it in my house we always add sausage to make it a little more filling and flavorful. Just brown some Isernio’s Italian Chicken Sausage at the beginning of the recipe, and you’ll end up with a delicious meal that’s even better as leftovers the next day.

Lentils with Sausage

Lentils are a great source of fiber along with iron, protein, vitamin B1, and folate. They also happen to pair perfectly with sausage. This this stew will warm your body and your soul – and if you want to sneak in a little extra nutrition, wilt in a few spinach or kale leaves at the end. With all the flavor simmering in the soup, nobody will even notice.

Sweet Potato Sausage Soup

Few people know their way around the kitchen better than Martha Stewart, so you can trust that her soup recipe will be a crowd pleaser. It can be made with either hot or sweet Italian sausage depending on your taste, and the sweet potatoes make this a perfect pairing for the season.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

All of the flavors of a stuffed pepper without all the work! This super simple supper from Chef Savvy features any kind of sausage you like and comes together quickly, with most of the cooking time being hands-off.

Creamy Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

This recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron is proof that decadence is still possible in a 30-minute meal. With real cream, lots of veggies, flavorful sausage, and cheesy ravioli, this will fill up even the biggest appetite.

Packed with flavor, sausage is the perfect ingredient to make a filling fall soup. Plus, since it pairs perfectly with the rich tastes of the season and Isernio’s has a number of different varieties to choose from, the culinary possibilities are endless!

How will you try Isernio’s sausage in your soup this season?