Mamas Sausage-Pecan Balls

• 1 cup pecan halves
• 10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 12 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 14 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature (Crisco)
• 8 ounces raw mild pork sausage

1. Preheat oven to 350; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add pecans to the work bowl of a food processor fitted with metal blade.
3. Pulse until chopped, but not too finely.
4. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
5. Replace the blade with the grating disc and grate the cheese; remove cheese to a second bowl; set aside.
6. Switch back to the metal blade (no need to clean bowl) add flour, baking powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to bowl of food processor; pulse to combine.
7. Add in the shortening and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
8. Add in the grated cheese and the sausage; pulse until well combined.
9. Transfer mixture to a bowl; add in the reserved pecans and, using your hands, press the dough together until well combined (the dough will be very crumbly).
10. To for the balls, use a small ice cream scoop and your hands, shape mixture into 1-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
11. Bake 20-25 minutes, until browned; remove to a rack to cool; serve immediately.

pecan halves, cheddar cheese, flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper, vegetable shortening, pork sausage

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/mama-s-sausage-pecan-balls-358038 (may not work)