Sausage & Pepper Bread

My FIL used to make this bread. It may be a bit labor intensive, but it is soooo tasty. It can also be made in advance and frozen before baking.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 25 mins
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 1  lb  sweet Italian sausage
• 3⁄4 cup  chopped  red pepper
• 1 1⁄4 cups warm water
• 4 1⁄2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon  italian seasoning
• 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 2  eggs, room temerature
• 4 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1 1⁄2 cups  shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Cook sausage and pepper until sausage is brown breaking up the meat as you go along.
2. Drain and set aside to cool.
3. Pour warm water into large bowl, stir in yeast until dissolved.
4. Proof 10 minutes.
5. Add sugar, salt, seasoning, butter, 1 egg and 2 cups flour.
6. Beat until smooth then gradually add enough flour to make a soft dough.
7. Knead for about 10 minutes.
8. Place in a greased bowl, turn to grease top. Cover and let rise until doubled about 1 hour.
9. Punch down dough and divide into 6 pieces.
10. Roll each piece into a 14" x 4" strip.
11. Stir cheese into sausage mixture then spoon down the center of each strip.
12. Seal long edges of strips together to form a 14" rope.
13. Braid 3 ropes together and seal.
14. Place loaves on greased baking sheet, cover and let rise until doubled about 45 minutes.
15. Beat remaining egg and brush on loaves.
16. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.
17. Serve warm.