• Be sure to read the post before you begin this recipe. It contains more details on the equipment that you need for this slow food project.
• Keep your ingredients at 38-40°F/3.3-4.4°C (almost frozen) for easier cutting and grinding. Cut the chicken breasts and thighs into 1-inch (2.54 cm) cubes (or smaller).
• In a large bowl, place the chicken, feta, tomatoes, garlic, oregano, basil, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Refrigerate this mixture while you set up your meat grinder.
  
• When you are ready to grind your mixture, stir in the spinach. Using a meat grinder, coarsely grind the mixture. Send the mixture through the grinder slowly, so that you do not create a jam.
  
• You can shape the mixture into sausage patties at this point if you would like. If you would rather have links in casings, refrigerate the sausage mixture while you do the next steps.
• Clean your meat grinder thoroughly and set it up for stuffing sausage. I needed to use the largest stuffing funnel for the hog casings. Rubbing the outside of the stuffing funnel with a little oil can help the casing slide on easier.
• Remove your hog casings from their packaging and rinse them in cool water. Prepare them for filling as directed on the packaging. For the ones I am using, I had to soak them in cool water for 15 minutes and then untangle a few and cut them into 2-foot (0.6 m) lengths. Then I opened one end of each casing I was using and let cool water (from the faucet) run through the entire length. I let water run through each casing I was using three times, and I only rinsed the insides of the casings I was planning to use. After rinsing, I tied a knot in one end of each casing and set them near the grinder on a paper towel.
• When you are ready to stuff sausages, slide a casing over the end of the stuffing funnel. I was able to get the casing to fit by gathering it like I would gather pantyhose I was about to stick my toes into, and then sliding it onto the funnel. My grinder recommends leaving 2-inches (5 grams) of casing overhanging the end of the stuffing funnel, but the directions for your grinder may vary.
• Very slowly start sending your ground sausage mixture through your meat grinder. One hand can use the stomper to push the mixture into the grinder while your other hand can help guide the casing as it fills.
• You can make small links by stopping the grinder and tying off the casing frequently with kitchen twine. I chose to make large links (about 1-lb/454 grams each) so that I did not have to stop the machine as often.
• After removing the large link from the machine, I twisted it three times in the middle (essentially dividing each into two links) and then tied off the open end. Then I slid a new casing onto the machine and continued the filling process. I did not clean out the machine each time I had finished filling a casing.
• Once all of the sausage mixture is used, turn off and unplug your meat grinder. I recommend cleaning out your grinder immediately. I was able to salvage an additional ½-lb. (227 grams) of sausage mixture that was stuck to various parts inside the machine. You can press these leftovers into patties, pan fry them, and enjoy them right away. (All of this sausage prep has made you hungry, right?)
• Your homemade sausages will not stay fresh as long as the cured sausage you buy in the store. Any sausages that you are not planning to cook within 24 hours should be double-wrapped in plastic and frozen. If you have a vacuum sealer for food, you could use that for your sausages as an alternative to double-wrapping.
• Follow the directions on your casing packaging to store the casings that you did not use. For the brand I purchased, I had to dry any unused casings (only the ones where I did not rinse the interiors), repack them in salt, and store them in the fridge where they will wait until my next sausage-making adventure.

To cook your homemade sausages:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed metal baking pan with parchment paper and put about 1 pound (454 grams) of sausage on the pan. Drizzle the sausage with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Once your oven has heated, put the pan on the bottom rack. Roast for 15 minutes. Flip the sausages over using tongs and roast an additional 10-15 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them; they'll dry out on you!