Sausage Bread

Mmmm... It's near-freezing in Ohio, but tonight I came home to the smell of warm sausage bread and tomato soup. This is a hearty and savory bread that goes well with a bowl of soup, breakfast or brunch, or even cut into smaller pieces for a party tray. We prefer using Bob Evans or Jimmy Dean regular sausage, although you can certainly use a hotter variety for more kick.

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed
• 1 - 2 Tablespoons parsley flakes
• 3 - 4 ounces hot pepper cheese, diced
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 pound mild sausage
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten

Directions:

1. Roll bread dough on a lightly floured board into a 9x13 inch rectangle.
2. Meanwhile, fry sausage and crumble; drain well
3. Lay sausage lengthwise in center of dough, topping with hot pepper cheese, mozzarella cheese and parsley flakes
4. Drizzle most of the egg over filling
5. Fold up the short ends first, then the long ends, lapping over, pressing to seal tightly. Brush loaf with remaining egg. Some of the egg may be used to seal the seams.
6. Bake in a lightly greased baking sheet at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes until nicely browned
7. Slice into approximately 1 inch thick slices and serve