Nana's Sausage Bread

My grandmother used to make this bread as an appetizer for holiday dinners. Its also a great dish for a light supper or super bowl parties, etc. It is not as difficult to make as it may sound. Each loaf will yield 6-10 servings depending on how large you mke the slices.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 12-20
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 2  lbs  loose sweet Italian sausage links (or remove casings from 2 lbs of links)
• 3  eggs
• 1  teaspoon dried basil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fennel seed (optional)
• 1  lb  grated mozzarella cheese (approx. 4 cups)
• 6  cups flour (set aside 1 cup of the 6)
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1  envelope  rapid rise dry yeast
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 2  tablespoons butter or 2  tablespoons margarine
• 2  tablespoons  finely grated  locatelli cheese or 2  tablespoons parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. In frying pan, brown sausage over medium high heat.
2. Drain drippings and let cool.
3. Mix 2 eggs, basil, fennel seeds and mozzarella into cooled sausage and set aside.
4. In large bowl, combine 5 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast.
5. In small sauce pan, heat water, milk and butter until hot to the touch (about 125°), and stir into dry mixture.
6. Mix in only enough of the reserved 1 cup of flour to make a soft dough.
7. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes).
8. Cover dough and let rest for about 10 minutes.
9. Divide dough in half, set one half aside.
10. Roll half the dough into a 6" x 18" rectangle.
11. Spoon half the sausage mixture evenly over the dough to within a 1/2 of the edges.
12. Fold the dough over the sausage filling and overlap the dough by about 1 1/2", seal seam and ends by pinching dough together.
13. Carefully transfer filled dough to a greased baking sheet in a horseshoe shape.
14. With a very sharp knife or razor, make slashes in the top of dough about 1/2" deep and about 2" apart.
15. Repeat rolling and filling with remaining piece of dough.
16. Beat remaining egg and brush over both loves of bread.
17. Lightly sprinkle 1 TB of Locatelli or Parmesan cheese over each loaf (optional).
18. Cover loaves and let rise until doubled (about 40-50 minutes).
19. Bake in preheated 375° oven for about 25-30 minutes or until done.
20. Remove from baking sheets and cool slightly.
21. Serve warm.
22. Refrigerate leftovers.
23. Bread can be made a day ahead of time and then warmed in the oven before serving.