Slow-Cooker Mini Smoked Sausages with Grape Jelly Sauce

1. Combine mini smoked sausages or cocktail wieners in a slow cooker with chili sauce and grape jelly. Stir well. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours.
2. Serve the little hot dogs or sausages from the slow cooker (set on LOW or WARM) with toothpicks, small plates, and napkins available for your guests.
3. You might also spear them with toothpicks and arrange them on a plate drizzled with some of the sauce. Keep them warm on a warming tray or serve immediately.

Note: Chili sauce is a condiment that is similar to cocktail sauce (as opposed to Asian chili paste). Look for chili sauce near the ketchup in the supermarket.

Tips and Variations

• Instead of mini smoked sausages or mini wieners, use 2 pounds of Polish smoked sausage, andouille sausage or similar smoked sausage. Slice the sausage into 1/2-inch or 1-inch pieces.
• Add 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce to the sauce mixture.
• Replace the chili sauce with your favorite barbecue sauce.
• Add 1 or 2 cups of frozen pearl onions to the slow cooker with the mini sausages or cocktail wieners or add about 1 cup of sliced fresh onions.
• Replace the grape jelly with currant jelly or a can of cranberry sauce.
• Replace the grape jelly with apricot preserves and 1/4 cup of packed light brown sugar.
• Add about 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for a little “bite.”
• For “spirited” little smokies, add a few tablespoons of bourbon to the sauce mixture.

Homemade Chili Sauce

• In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder.
• Blend well. Store covered in the refrigerator.