Spicy Italian Sausage and Cheese Bread

1 recipe Basic Pizza Dough, recipe follows, or storebought refrigerated pizza dough from a can or tube
2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pound mild Italian sausage, remove from the casings
1 cup diced yellow onions
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
1 egg plus 2 teaspoons water, beaten together

Preheat oven to 375 degree F, and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cornmeal onto a large baking sheet pan.

Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned and no pink is left, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the basil and parsley, stirring to combine. Cool the sausage mixture completely.

Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of cornmeal onto a lightly floured surface and place the pizza dough on top of the cornmeal. Roll the dough into a 10 by 14-inch rectangle. Spread the cooled sausage mixture over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the sausage. Brush the 1-inch border of the dough with the egg wash. Starting at a long end, roll the dough, jelly roll-style, into a log shape, pinching the edges closed as you roll. Place the bread, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet and brush the top of the bread with the remaining egg wash.

Bake the sausage bread for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Allow bread to stand 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. To serve, slice the bread into 1-inch pieces and serve warm.

Basic Pizza Dough:

1 cup warm (110 degrees F) water
1 (1/4-ounce) envelope active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups bleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine the water, yeast, sugar, and 1 tablespoon oil and stir to combine. Let sit until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes.

Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt, mixing by hand until it is all incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Continue adding the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, working the dough after each addition, until all the flour is incorporated but the dough is still slightly sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.

Oil a large mixing bowl with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to oil all sides. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in a warm, draft-free place until nearly doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Use as directed.

1 Loaf 14 Pieces

Note: Next time, I may try to place the meat mixture closer to the edges so that when I roll I don't have doughy ends.  In addition, pay close attention to the rolling process to create more of a swirl between meat/dough.  Serve with a sauce (e.g. tomato basil etc), store bought or homemade.

foodnetwork.com

Emeril Lagasse

Amish White Bread

2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.

Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
 

Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
 

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

Allrecipies.com

Makes 2 Loaves

 

 

Braided Egg Bread

17 ounces red-skinned potatoes (about 3 medium), peeled
5 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, room temperature
4 teaspoons coarse salt

1/2 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
3 envelopes dry yeast
Pinch of sugar
4 large eggs
8 cups (about) unbleached all purpose flour

Cornmeal
3/4 cup golden raisins (optional)
1 egg, beaten to blend (glaze)
Sesame or poppy seeds

Combine potatoes and 5 cups water in large pot. Cover and boil until potatoes are very tender, about 40 minutes. Ladle 1 1/4 cups cooking liquid into small bowl and reserve; cool reserved liquid to lukewarm. Drain potatoes. Transfer potatoes to medium bowl and mash potatoes until smooth. Place mashed potatoes in strainer set over large bowl of electric mixer. Using rubber spatula, press mashed potatoes through strainer. Add 3/4 cup sugar, butter, 4 teaspoons salt and 1 1/4 cups reserved cooking liquid to mashed potatoes. Using dough hook, beat until well blended.

Combine 1/2 cup warm water, yeast and pinch of sugar in small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add to potato mixture and beat to blend. Beat in 4 eggs. Mix in enough flour, 1 cup at a time, to form soft dough. Turn out dough onto generously floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as necessary to form soft elastic dough, about 10 minutes. Lightly oil large bowl. Add dough, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Oil 2 large baking sheets. Sprinkle generously with the cornmeal. Turn out dough onto floured surface. Divide dough in half; knead each piece lightly. If desired, knead raisins into 1 piece of dough. Divide each dough piece into 3 equal portions. Roll out each portion between work surface and palms of hand to 15-inch-long rope. Form into braids, using 3 ropes for each braid. Tuck ends under and pinch ends together. Place 1 loaf on each baking sheet. Cover with towel and let rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush loaves with egg glaze. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Continue baking until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on bottom, about 25 minutes longer. Transfer to racks and cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Wrap tightly in foil and freeze up to 2 weeks.)

Bon Appétit November 1994

Makes 2 Loaves

Italian Biscuit Flatbread

2/3 cup grated Romano
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1 10-ounce package refrigerated biscuit dough

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Combine first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Separate dough into individual biscuits. Flatten each to 5-inch-diameter circle using fingers. Arrange 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Spread 1 generous tablespoon cheese mixture on each biscuit to within 1/4 inch of edges. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Serve warm.

Bon Appétit March 1990

Makes 10