I would just like to start off by saying - for those of you who... yes I am talking about you. YOU SPECIFICALLY. Yes you. You sitting there pointing to yourself, looking over your shoulder mouthing "me?" with those wide eyes...
I MISSED YOU SO MUCH! And FOOD? Oh how I missed food. I missed the taste of soft boiled eggs and thick sliced apple smoked bacon. I missed cool Hawaiian yellow fin sashimi with ponzu and scallions. I missed that juicy burger, that cheesy enchilada, that greasy cheesy pizza. I am so glad we are all back together where we belong. Quick group hug!
Oh. Yea. One thing I didn't miss. Chocolate long john donuts and cold milk. When you are sick, sugar tastes divine. So no I did not waste away to nothing in the past three weeks. Quite on the contrary. Nothing says loving like a chocolate donut and NyQuil.
Lucky for me the first chance I had to really EAT again after my three weeks with the plague / malaria / leprosy / pleurisy / was for the Wild Card playoff game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons. (Which, may I add - THE CARDS WON!) Nothing like football party food to get you back in the mood. Since I missed - oh - ALL OF THE HOLIDAYS and it's PLETHORA OF A YUMMY-LICIOUS BOUNTY. (One day I will get over this...) In the barrage of smokie links and currant jelly and cheesy meatballs and stuffed mushroom caps, I made my all time favorite football party food evah. Italian Sausage Bread with Marinara dipping sauce.
Mmm. Doesn't that look good? The actual loaf is about 18" long. 18 inches of spicy Italian sausage, caramelized onions and mozzarella cheese, all baked in a yummy basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, red pepper braided loaf of bread. Chewy on the inside, crisp on the outside. And oh so impressive looking when you show up with it. YOU? baked THIS? You brush it off - but of course. Tastes amazing on its own, or dunked into some simple marinara sauce.
Italian Sausage Bread
(Makes 2 loaves)
1 pound Italian sausage
1 large onion, diced
1 1/2 cup warm water
2 pkgs. active dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
4 1/2 cup flour (an additional 1/4 cup may be needed)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1-2 cups shredded mozzarella
Brown sausage and onion. Drain and cool completely.
In a mixer utilizing the bread hook, combine warm water, yeast and sugar. Let sit 5-10 minutes or until proofed.
To yeast, add salt, rosemary, parsley, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, butter and 1 egg. Mix well. Add 2 cups of flour and beat until smooth. Gradually add the rest of the flour and knead for 8-10 minutes.
Place in greased bowl, and turn to grease all sides. Cover & place in a warm spot to sit for about 1 hour. 1 Hour of sheer torture...
Punch down dough and divide into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 2 x 18-20 inch strip. Stir your desired amount of cheese into the sausage onion mixture and spoon down the center of each length of dough. Pinch long edges together to form a 14-20" rope. Make 6 ropes and braid 3 lengths together. Let rise 45 minutes. 45 long excruciating minutes...
Beat remaining egg and brush on loaves.
Bake in 400ºF oven for 25 minutes. 25 painful minutes of licking the oven door... I do not really recommend this licking at all.
Allow to cool to the touch, then slice and serve. I like mine with just a thin tease of butter, but I serve it with...
Marinara Sauce
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, clopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil
1 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (both tomatoes and juice)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until softened, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes.
Stir in the parsley just before serving.
Wow your friends and family this weekend and ooh I know, make it for the playoff party you are attending / throwing. It is sooooo delicious people will beg you for the recipe. Go ahead and keep it as your secret. I wont tell. 
