Sausage Stuffed French Loaf

SERVES: 8

COOK TIME: 30 Min

I like to serve this versatile loaf alongside a big salad or creamy soup. But you can also slice it thinly for appetizers for the big game. Or cut it into hearty sandwiches, and you've got enough for a meal! If you prefer bold flavors (like I do!), use spicy sausage.

What You'll Need

1 (16-ounce) loaf French bread
1 pound ground pork sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced

What to Do

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut off ends of French bread loaf, and set ends aside. Hollow out the center of loaf with a long serrated bread knife, leaving a 1/2-inch-thick shell. Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add bread removed from inside the loaf. Process to make coarse crumbs. Set bread shell and crumbs aside.
Cook sausage and onion in a skillet until sausage is browned, stirring until it crumbles; drain well. Stir in 1 cup reserved bread crumbs, the cheese, and next 6 ingredients. Spoon sausage mixture into bread shell. Replace loaf ends, securing with toothpicks (they keep the sausage mixture from coming out of the loaf during baking).
Melt butter in a small saucepan; add garlic, and cook about 1 minute. Brush over loaf. Wrap loaf in aluminum foil, leaving open slightly on top.
Bake 20 minutes or until cheese thoroughly melts.

Cut into 8 slices.