Country Sausage With Red-Eye Gravy

Great homemade breakfast and the aroma will wake up the whole house. Serve with a couple scrambled eggs and you have a wonderful way to start the day

• Ready In: 47 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1  lb  coarsely ground pork
• 1⁄2 cup crouton, coarsely crushed
• 1⁄4 cup  finely chopped onion
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground sage
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1⁄2 cup dried cherries, chopped
• 1  tablespoon  cooking oil
• 2  tablespoons  packed brown sugar
• 3⁄4 cup strong black coffee
•  prepared  biscuit

Directions

1. In a medium bowl combine the pork, croutons, onion, garlic, the 1 teaspoon brown sugar, sage, salt, thyme, and cayenne. Mix thoroughly. Gently mix in cherries (for added flavor, soak cherries in 1/4 cup of bourbon for 15 minutes). Shape mixture into twelve 3-inch patties, using wet hands. Arrange on a tray. Cover; refrigerate overnight.
2. In a large skillet fry patties, half at a time, in hot oil over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat:keep warm.
3. For the Red-Eye Gravy, stir the 2 tablespoons brown sugar into the drippings in skillet. Stir in the coffee. Bring to boiling. Boil gently, uncovered, for 2 or 3 minutes or until gravy is slightly thickened and has a rich reddish brown, scraping the skillet to loosen any crusty bits.
4. Split biscuits. Serve sausage patties in split biscuits with gravy.