This week’s ingredient was certainly not the most unusual to ever appear in Kitchen Stadium, but that doesn’t mean that the task of impressing the judges was any easier for the Iron Chef and the challenger. In fact, such a well-known ingredient can often be tougher than a more exotic one as the chefs will have to be even more creative to avoid producing dishes that everyone has seen before.

Despite its familiarity, it’s well worth having a look at the history of the humble sausage to see where it originated and how it is used in the cuisines of the world.

What is sausage?

By definition, a sausage is made of ground meat, most often pork and beef, that has been mixed with salt, fat, herbs and spices. It is either sold in bulk or encased in tubes made of natural or synthetic materials. This sausage is then either cooked from fresh or cured to preserve the meat to be eaten later.

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Duff Goldman is a master at baking cakes, but did you know he can cook, too? In this simple recipe, he takes five ingredients and serves up skewered smoked sausage with a dipping sauce that combines ketchup, hot sauce and spicy brown mustard.

Pair this dish with Duff’s Tangy Corn Relish.

Get the recipe: Grilled Sausage With Spicy Sauce

Browse more of Food Network’s kebab recipes.

Whether you’ve just returned from baseball practice, work or the gym, you can still put dinner on the table quick. This dish whips up in just 35 minutes and has something for everyone.  Boneless, skinless chicken breasts and sweet, Italian sausages are cut up into chunks and sautéed with fragrant onions and peppers. Before serving, pour a sauce made of garlic, white wine, cherry peppers and butter over it to kick it up a notch.

Tip: Add extra heat by using spicy sausage and hot cherry peppers.

Get the recipe: Chicken, Sausage and Peppers

Browse more of Food Network’s chicken recipes.