• 18 bamboo skewers (each 12 inches long)
• 1 1/2 lbs cooked sausage links (such as Aidells Chicken and Apple)
• 5 Golden Delicious apples
• 3 C water
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 small red onion (about 4 to 5 oz.)
• Apple Thyme Glaze (recipe below)

1. Soak skewers in water for 30 minutes. Cut sausage links into 1-inch rounds. Core but don't peel apples. Cut each into 8 equal wedges. Cover wedges with water in a large bowl and stir in lemon juice. Set aside.
2. Peel onion and cut off root and stem ends. Cut onion into 8 equal wedges, stem to root. Heat grill to medium-high (375 to 400 degrees). Thread ingredients on bamboo skewers: sausage, apple wedge, onion wedge. Repeat so each skewer has two pieces of each ingredient. Finish skewer with one more sausage round.
3. Brush skewers lightly with Apple Thyme Glaze. Grill 3 to 4 minutes. Turn skewers over and brush again with glaze. Grill 3 to 4 more minutes. Brush once more with glaze just before removing skewers from grill.

Apple Thyme Glaze

• 2 C apple juice
• 1 C apple brandy
• 4 T honey
• 2 T minced shallot
• 1 T fresh thyme leaves

1. Bring apple juice, brandy, honey and shallot to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Vigorously simmer until liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Stir in thyme leaves and remove from heat to cool.
3. May be made up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.

Approximate values per serving: 697 calories, 46 g fat, 77 mg cholesterol, 14 g protein, 35 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 769 mg sodium, 68 percent calories from fat.

recipe from: The Arizona Republic, 06/04/03