Bon Appetit: Breakfast Fun!

(Stephen named this post, isn't it the most creative post title you've ever heard?!  Good job, Stephen!)

I'll readily admit that I used to go to the gym and run while watching the Paula Deen show on the Food Network.  I was shameless and could care less what all the fit and trim people on the machines next to me were thinking - if I couldn't eat her food, the least I could do was watch her food and drool all over the machine that I was on!  My wonderful Aunt Shirley knows how much I love Paula Deen and so she picked up her latest Holiday Baking magazine for me when I was visiting her over Labor Day!  Because this magazine is so jam packed full of great recipes, I refused to take it from my Aunt (I've been working on copying all the recipes that I want...there are just so many!) and I insist that you go out and pick up your copy today!

Let me tell you, I know she likes her butters and creams and mayonnaise's and all the sorts of things that cause my thighs to shiver, but a lot of these recipes weren't that bad, especially if being prepared for a special occasion.  I'm going to share one with you that I thought was shockingly super easy, and came out looking as though it were really hard to prepare.  

Easy Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Bread

(Will make 2 loaves and can be frozen...perfect!)

Here's what you need:

* 1 pound ground Italian sausage

* 1/4 cup minced green onion

* 1 t rubbed sage

* 1/4 t crushed red pepper

*1 (3 pound) package frozen bread dough loves, thawed according to package directions (they used Bridgford Frozen White Ready-Dough, I used Rhodes Pizza Dough & Italian Bread)

* 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese

* 1 large egg, lightly beaten

(The parsley was for another recipe - I was obviously really excited about using it that I needed to take a picture of it!)

Here's what you do:

* Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (I didn't have parchment paper so I didn't do this, I sprayed my pan instead)

* In a medium skillet, combine sausage, green onion, sage, and red pepper; cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until sausage is browned and crumbly.  Drain well.  Let cool for 10 minutes.

* On a lightly floured surface, roll out each bread dough loaf into an 18x6-inch rectangle.  Place sausage mixture evenly down center of each rectangle.  Sprinkle each evenly with cheese.  Fold long sides of rectangles over filling to completely enclose filling, pinching edges to seal.  Cut each in half crosswise to make 6 ropes, pinching ends to seal.  Form dough into 2 braids, place on prepared baking sheet, folding ends under.  Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, for 1.5-2 hours or until doubled in size.

*Preheat oven to 350

*Gently brush beaten egg over braided loaves.  Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

***I forgot to take a picture of my finished product, but it honestly did look a lot like this :)

I made one and froze the other and they both turned out fantastic!