Spicy Sausage Sandwiches

We enjoyed a lot of different sausages during our time in Germany, including currywurst. Another thing that we enjoyed was going to our local butcher and seeing what seasonable meats were available. We are fortunate that have a butcher in our home town that does the same, so we went there a couple of weeks ago and we were able to get some Linguica sausage. It is a spicy cured sausage from Portugal and we cooked it in a spicy curry and chili sauce. We made more sauce than we needed for the sausages and plan to use it on some other things as well. It was simple, delicious, and definitely registered on the spicy scale. The sauce would be great with hot dogs, bratwurst, or beef links as well. Although not exactly the same as currywurst, it certainly satisfied that craving.

DSC_9813
Sausage in a Spicy Sauce

INGREDIENTS

  •  2 to 4 Sausage Links – Linguica or other style
  •  12 oz Beer – something that you would enjoy drinking
  •  1 cup Chili Sauce
  •  1/4 cup Malt Vinegar
  •  2 tbsp Light Brown Sugar
  •  2 tsp Curry Powder
  •  2 tsp Hot Sauce
  •  1 1/2 Onion – thickly sliced
  •  3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  •  Salt and Pepper to taste
  •  Hoagie Rolls
DSC_9794
Linguica Sausage

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine the chili sauce, salt and pepper, brown sugar, curry powder, hot sauce, malt vinegar, and beer in a large sauce pan and heat over medium-high heat until it starts to simmer.  Continue cooking for another 5 to 7 minutes to reduce the sauce. While the sauce is thickening, brown the sausage in a skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the sausage and add another tablespoon of olive oil and the onion to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook the onion until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the sausages and onion to the sauce and simmer together just for a couple of minutes just to let the sauce coat the sausage and onion. Butterfly the sausage so that it will lay flat, place on the rolls, and spoon onions and sauce over top.

DSC_9773
Combine the Ingredients
DSC_9785
Sausage and Onion
DSC_9802
Cooked Onion
DSC_9818
Spicy Sausage Sandwiches for Two

 

Frankfurt’s Christmas Markets

The Christmas markets started last week and they dominate the areas where we normally shop and eat. The markets have definitely been everything that we were expecting and heard that they would be. Lots and lots of food, Glühwein, Apfelwein, beer, candy, and souvenirs galore. We understand that Frankfurt’s markets are one of the larger Christmas markets, at least in terms of attendance, and the crowds have definitely shown up in full force. We aren’t ones to stay out too late, but from what we have heard, the crowds can get quite boisterous and it is quite the party with everyone who has had the fill of alcohol and food. It is hard not to have a good time with everyone enjoying themselves and a general feeling of celebration in the air.

img_3127
Shiny Lights and Gathering Crowds
img_3109
Enjoying the Celebration
img_3126
Singing Christmas Carols
img_0898
Row of Stalls
img_0900
Plenty of Shopping

During the day, it is definitely a family affair as kids ride the merry-go-rounds and are amazed at the festively colored temporary buildings. It is amazing how elaborate these stalls can be considering that they are only in place for a month including restaurants with tables, wine stands with indoor seating areas, and stores with hundreds of shelves. As the day turns into night, the markets turn to more of an adult playground as more and more young adults make their way out to party with the Christmas spirit.

img_3124
One of the Merry-Go-Rounds

 

img_0887
Candy Vender

 

img_0890
Christmas Decorations
img_0869
Popcorn Stand
img_0905
Temporary Restaurant

We made our way down to Alten Limpurg, one of favorite restaurants, but it was quite difficult to get there and we were lucky to get a seat. We definitely won’t be going there over the weekend as it is far to busy for us. The party goes on seven days a week, though, so we can probably make our way down there during a weekday when the crowds are not quite as bad. We have had bratwurst and currywurst from the stands and we will definitely be getting some roasted chestnuts soon. We have also had some chocolates and will have a few specialties from Frankfurt over the coming weeks.

img_3135
Inside Our Favorite Bar
img_3119
Shopping in the Market
img_3128
Elaborate Temporary Buildings
img_0877
Glühwein Vender