Recipe: Italian Pizza Bread (using frozen bread dough)

ITALIAN PIZZA BREAD

1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed and allowed to rise according to package directions
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup grated parmesan or Romano cheese
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
fresh ground pepper to taste
1 to 2 tbsp. olive oil
1 egg, well beaten
1/2 cup grated parmesan or Romano cheese
1 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 to 1 lb. mozzarella cheese slices, to taste
1 cup sliced pepperoni

Remove sausage from casing. Saute with onion and garlic until well done, about 12 minutes, crumbling meat as it cooks. Add Parmesan or Romano cheese, basil, oregano and pepper and simmer about 5 minutes longer. Drain mixture well and set aside.

Punch dough down and pat into a 12-inch oval. Brush with olive oil, then egg.

Sprinkle the sausage mixture evenly over the dough. Layer the remaining Parmesan, mushrooms, mozzarella and pepperoni on top.

Roll the dough in jelly-roll fashion into a loaf, sealing edges with beaten egg. Place seam side down on bread pan and let it rise about 30 minutes.

Bake in preheated 350F. oven about 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

Makes about 12 (1-inch) slices