The Arthur Family: It's beginning to smell a lot like Sausage.....Bread!

Part of the Christmas tradition I had growing up was gathering with the ladies of the family and making goodies. You name it we made it.

Christmas cookies, Check. Italian cookies, Check. Biscotti, Check.

And my favorite Sausage Bread.

I can remember the huge production line we had set up with each station adding another filling to these glorious rolls.

You know you want one!

(!!!eyebrows wiggling!!!)

Last year was the first time I had made them on my own, having a big old kitchen in our new house and now that Marty is older he gets to help me with this tradition.

That is if I can keep him from eating all the filling.

To make this awesome snack you need to find some frozen bread dough. True if you are truly a baker you can make your own but who has the time. Follow the thawing directions on the package.

Once you have your dough all thawed and ready to go, the real work happens. Roll one loaf out to the size of a cookie sheet. I don't have a smooth counter so I find that turning a cookies sheet over and stabilizing it with silicone pot holders works great. (the same for Sugar Cookies!) I had 5 to make this year and my arms were feeling it.

Next comes the toppings!!!!

This year I used

1. Pasta Sauce

2. Diced black Olives

3. Mozzarella

4. Pepperoni

5. Sausage (I pre-cooked about 2 lbs, using 1lb mild and 1 lb hot)

6. Shaker Cheese

This is the part were Marty helped. Painting on the sauce, spreading cheese, eating cheese, adding pepperoni, eating pepperoni, then olives and sausage. Even Soyna got in on it. Well mostly clean up!

Once each one is filled it gets rolled into a log and into a coil. Each loaf is placed into a Pam'ed pie tin and then left to rise for about 2 hours. Although long this time due to nap schedules.

Once they are all nice and puffed I brush with a little olive oil and sea salt. Then pop it in the oven using the package directions, which in this case was 350 degrees for 25 minutes.