Friday, December 24, 2010

Pepperoni Bread - A Favorite!

Most people look forward to the traditional Christmas Dinner of turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry salad, potatoes, corn, broccli casserole, sweet potatoes, etc. etc. (my mom's menu).  This is what I look forward to at my mom's house.  I'm so blessed to be able to go there and eat her wonderful food.  At my house, however, I, in all my (?? shhh) years, have never made this meal for Christmas.  The menu for out immediate family's Christmas get together is Pepperoni Bread.  This recipe was given to me years ago (how many ??? shhhh...many!), by a friend.  Her family makes this every year, and since she gave it to me, it has been a tradition of ours as well.  It is funny as I look at this recipe (which I don't even look at anymore when I make it), how it has been "tweaked" down through the years.   I do think, though, if you want to make it, you will be able to do so by following the recipe below.
Pepperoni Bread

2 sticks pepperoni
2 loaves frozen bread dough
(1 pkg divide into four loaves)
l pkg kilbasa sausage
12 oz shredded cheddar cheese

l.  Let dough thaw and rise on a greased sheet cake pan overnight
2.  Roll out dough with rolling pin onto floured surface
3.  Mix Kilbasa and pepperoni and place on bread
4.  Place cheese on top
5.  Fold over and pinch edges together *
6.  Bake at 350 for 30-45 min.

Optional "tweaks":

*Cut 1 in. strips along edges of dough and make a "lattice" effect as you alternate wrapping from side to side.  Adds a little "fanciness" to it.  Thanks to "just an idea", daughter, Rebecca.  I would never have thought of that!

Also, you can brush the top with egg whites before you bake.  This gives it a "shiny" look;  Also, "just an idea" from Rebecca!

It would be nice to have these made ahead of time and give as gifts throughout the Christmas season.  I have to be careful, though, not to give too many away, or I would get beat up or disowned by family!

One wonderful thing about it is that you cand grind up all the meat earlier and just store in 'fridge for several days.  I have already done this, and when I get off this computer, I plan to bake a roll to take to my mothers house to share on this Christmas Eve.  Can't wait to smell it baking!

Our "Off" Christmas!


Every other year the girls spend Christmas with us and, of course, the other year with their husbands'  families. 

This works out great!  At first I thought it would be hard, but it actually has not been as hard as I thought it would be.  Of course, we still get together and exchange gifts and have Pepperoni Bread (their favorite) sometime during the Christmas season.  (maybe even at Thanksgiving) 

They also do the everyotheryearthingy with Thanksgiving as well.  This year was our Thanksgiving year.  That's when we took the "Christmas" picture of the family. (above).  This is actually a plus, because when it's our year for Christmas, we really don't get a family picture to send out. 

Another plus is that Lonnie Love and I get to spend some quality time together!  As a matter of fact, we already exchnged gifts on Christmas Eve morning.  It was a sweet time.  Yes, the "off" Christmas year has it's advantages!  One of them being the reminder that "because two people met......".  Actually, it's because the Lord brought two people together!  As we knelt and thanked Him this morning for all the children and prayed for them and their families (their inlaws included), we thanked Him for the "gift" of each other.  At the risk of sound "mushy",  I'm so thankful that we are together!  Even if it is just the two of us!