Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 pre-cooked or fresh uncooked bratwurst (about 1 lb.)
• 1 large onion, sliced (to about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick)
• 2 Fuji or Gala apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices (at thickest parts)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups fresh apple cider

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add sausages and brown thoroughly, turning as necessary to brown all surfaces (about 5 minutes total). Transfer sausages to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.

Add onion to skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring often,

until lightly browned (about 2-3 minutes). Add apple slices, thyme, salt and pepper and stir just until combined.

Return sausages to skillet, emmersing the sausages down into the apple/onion mixture. Pour apple cider over sausages. Place skillet lid loosely over the skillet (leave a small opening so steam can escape). (Alternatively, a large piece of aluminum foil can be placed over the skillet, leaving a small opening for steam to escape). Reduce heat to medium-low and braise sausages and onion/apple mixture for 20 minutes. (Note: If using fresh uncooked sausages, cook for 20 minutes or until sausages are cooked through.)

Transfer sausages to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, apple and cider mixture, uncovered, for an additional 2-3 minutes.

To serve, arrange sausages on individual plates and spoon the apple mixture alongside, then drizzle over all with the cooking liquids.