Garlic, Cheese, and Sausage Bites

If you have never roasted garlic before, you really need to try it. The rich flavor that results is delicious, and you can eat much more of it! As you can see from my picture below, the head of garlic don't always stay together when you cut the top off; but that doesn't matter because it still works.

I found this recipe last winter and have made it before. It is not one of those "quick and easy" recipes either - you need time to roast the garlic, to cook the sausage, and then stuff all the wonton wrappers. But it is WORTH it - these little bites are true to their name, and whenever I make them they are met with rave reviews.

Wonton wrappers can be found in the produce section, either by the bagged lettuce or by gourmet cheeses; just ask someone if you can't find them. Make sure to keep them covered with a wet paper towel as you are waiting to fill them, otherwise they will dry up and will crack when you try to pinch them together.

Garlic, Cheese, and Sausage Bites
from Our Sweet Life
Makes 24 bites

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 spicy Italian turkey sausage (I use hot Italian sausage)
1 head of garlic + 1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
garlic powder
garlic salt
black pepper
red chili flakes (or red pepper flakes)
24 won ton wrappers
non-stick cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut the top off the head of garlic and place it on a baking sheet covered with foil and pour olive oil over it. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and cloves are soft & mushy.

Cut the raw sausage open and throw away the sausage casing, brown the sausage in a skillet until completely cooked.

Chop 1-2 cloves raw garlic, about 1 1/2 tsp. In a large bowl combine cooked sausage, cream cheese, roasted garlic, raw garlic a pinch of red chili flakes, and seasoning- I just shook in a bit of the garlic powder, garlic salt, & pepper (probably around 1/4 teaspoons each, maybe a bit more). Mix with a hand held electric mixer until all ingredients are well combined.

Spray a mini-muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Add a won-ton wrapper to each cup of the muffin tray and fill with about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of the garlic cheese mix. Pinch the won ton wrapper together to seal, then spray with non-stick cooking spray, repeat until the whole tin is full of lil' garlic bites!

Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes or until they are golden brown and gorgeous! (This only takes 12 minutes in my oven, make sure you watch them!)