Casings etc.

[helenas]

I have KitchenAid grinder and sausage stuffer attachments;

I need casings and reliable recipes.

Could somebody recommend a good mail order source for casings?

And what is a good book with recipes? Aidells?

thank you, helena.

[Bux]

Jane Grigson's Charcuterie for the recipes. I generally prefer to "chop" the meat in a food processor than to grind it, but I use the Kichenaid attachment with the horn to stuff the casings without putting the disc in place. There used to be some casing wholesalers around Canal Street on the far west side. Renwick Street or something like that. My last batch came from a restaurant supply meat wholesaler courtesy of the restaurant connection. A hank can last a long time. Maybe a lifetime if you don't make sausages too often. They do last nearly that long when packed in salt however.

[cew]

You can order casings from Niman Ranch. (Sorry, I don't know how to post links, but the address is www.nimanranch.com). As with everything Niman, they are expensive, but I'm sure they are good quality.

In Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet they recommend using half of a two-liter Coke bottle to stuff sausages. I was thinking about trying it since I don't have a KitchenAid. If you are interested in making Thai or Vietnamese sausages, their recipe looks great; also I think there are a number of recipes in David Thompson's Thai Food.

[helenas]

The Niman Ranch is a great idea: they even carry a caul fat. Yesterday i discovered Mario's recipes for two kinds of crepinettes, and i even made one, sans caul fat. But now i can do the real thing!

[col klink]

Usually local butchers carry hog casings for sausage, try calling them up beforehand though.

Whatever you don't use just pack back in Kosher salt and keep adding salt until all of the water has been exuded which is usually a couple of days.

[Bux]

crepinettes

I recommend the Grigson book for those too.

Any butcher who makes and sells his own sausages should be able to part with small quantities of casings. I would expect him to expect you to buy your meat there as well.