Anybody got much experience making summer sausage?

My brother in law found a seasoning mix we like from Midwestern Research, I think we've got the procedure about right as far as times and temps for smoking and then final cooking, flavor is good and everyone comments its good.

I'm wanting to step it up a notch though with some peppers, maybe some cheese, some cracked peppercorns, etc.

How many peppers (jalapenos? weight or volume) would you put in? What form of peppers would you use? Dried, pickled, fresh?

How much cracked peppercorns would you put in?

How much restricted melt cheese would you put in?

Any other additives that you'd use? A guy at work says he had some one time that had dried cranberries that was excellent.

I add about 30% pepperjack cheese, get some cheese and a little heat

I wish I knew of a place that made that kind of cheese in bulk......:)

Cheesey google Swans Dairy at Catoosa or Watonga Cheese- Watonga plant is actually in Texas now

mike... it was a tongue and cheek comment... see the smiley face at the end... (hint, I think he is in the cheese business)

as a note on the Summer Sausage... I used the citric acid addition and would have left it out and I did not even use quite the full recommendation... to me it just made it taste more fake... I do still get a lot of praise on the sausage but i think it would be better without...

I'm thinking you have access. I live close to a cheese factory and they put the ends/pieces of pepper jack on sale for .50 to .99 cents a pound.

We've done a full jar of pickled jalapenos in a 15 pound batch (chopped well and with all the juice). Some think it's hot but I haven't found that to be the case. Have some dried jalapenos but haven't used them yet.

Also add about 1/4c cracked peppercorns. I like the peppercorn flavor myself.

I know he is in the cheese business but I wanted him to have some GOOD cheese. He is a good guy.

I don't follow you Mike, what are you talking about GOOD cheese in all capital letters for?

I went home for Thanksgiving, opened mom's refrigerator, and there was cheese in it from Kraft, had to give her an earful.......

Thanks the rest of you, will be doing some pepperjack, peppercorns, and peppers in the next batch, but not all at same time probably.

Kraft???? Oh how could she do that!!!!!!!