Meat Stuffed French Loaves

• loaf fat long French bread↗1
• ounces Italian sausage, skin removed↗4
• ounces ground turkey or 4 ounces ground beef↗4
• small onion↗1
• egg↗1
• teaspoon Dijon mustard↗1⁄2
• cup chopped parsley1⁄4
• teaspoon fennel seed1⁄4
• teaspoon dried basil↗1⁄4
• salt and pepper
• cup grated mozzarella cheese↗1⁄2
• tablespoons butter↗2
• clove garlic, crushed↗1

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. 2

   Cut off the ends of the bread, and carefully hollow out the center portion.

3. 3

   In a food processor, make soft crumbs out of the bread that was removed from the middle of the loaf.

4. 4

   Brown the sausage and ground meat in a skillet over medium heat.

5. 5

   Add onion, and continue to cook until soft.

6. 6

   In a bowl, combine the cooked meat and onion, the bread crumbs, grated cheese, the egg, mustard, parsley, fennel, basil, salt and pepper and pepper to taste.

7. 7

   With a long handled wooden spoon, stuff the hollowed out French bread with the stuffing mixture.

8. 8

   Place the ends of the bread back in place and secure with small skewers.

9. 9

   Melt the butter and stir in the garlic, let cook over low heat for about 1 minute.

10. 10

    Brush the loaf with the butter/garlic mixture and wrap in a piece of aluminium foil, leaving it open at the top, slightly so the top browns.

11. 11

    Bake until heated through, 15 to 20 minutes.

12. 12

    Cut into 1 inch slices for hors d'oeuvres, or into 4 larger pieces for main course servings.