Apple & Sage Vegan Sausage

• dried apple (Measured Loosely)1 cup
• filtered water↗2 cups
• old fashioned oats↗1⁄2 cup
• vital wheat gluten↗2⁄3 cup
• nutritional yeast flakes↗3 tablespoons
• almond meal or 1/4 cup flour↗1⁄4 cup
• brown rice, Cooked↗1⁄2 cup
• ground flax seeds↗1 tablespoon
• sugar↗1 teaspoon
• rubbed sage1 teaspoon
• garlic powder↗1 teaspoon
• lemon pepper1 teaspoon
• ground thyme↗1⁄4 teaspoon
• ground cloves↗1⁄8 teaspoon
• crushed red pepper flakes↗1⁄8 teaspoon
• teaspoon crushed fennel seed1⁄8
• teaspoon salt↗1⁄2
• tablespoons liquid from apples↗2
• tablespoon liquid smoke1
• teaspoon seasoned Chinese white rice vinegar↗1

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Place apples and water in a medium saucepan on medium heat and cook for about 15 minutes. After they have cooked reserve left over liquid from cooking the apples. Spread the apples out and allow them to cool.

2. 2

   In a food processor pulse the oats a few times to break them up. Pour into a medium sized mixing bowl with the wheat gluten, nutritional yeast flakes, almond flour, brown rice, flaxseed, sugar, sage, garlic powder, lemon pepper, thyme, clove, pepper flakes, fennel and salt.

3. 3

   Put apples in the food processor and add the 2 tablespoons of the reserved apple water, liquid smoke and vinegar. If there was no water left from cooking the apples, just add water. Puree for 2 minutes. To this add the dry ingredients from the mixing bowl and process until it mixes together and forms a ball in the processor. Take out of processor and place back into the mixing bowl.

4. 4

   Preheat oven 300 degrees.

5. 5

   To make the sausages, measure out 1 tablespoon for each sausage link. A tip, rubbing some oil inside the tablespoon helps the sausage dough from sticking to the spoon. First roll the dough into a ball, then between your hands to get the shape started. Then place it on a piece of wax paper and roll into a 3 1/2 inch link.

6. 6

   Place them on a greased cookie sheet, spray the tops with a little oil, cover with aluminum foil loosely and place into the oven for 15 minutes. Turn them over, cover again and cook them another 15 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before eating.

7. 7

   These can be frozen and reheated in the microwave.