Sausage & Vegetable-Filled Sandwich Loaf

This is a Tracy Family Favorite! I've never added the eggplant, but have used zucchini & yellow squash. I like to experiment with other vegetables, because all mixed together, you don't taste them. I've used chopped spinach, broccoli, grated carrots, etc. You have to put in the tomatoes--even if you don't like them (Carrie)--trust me, you need them for the precise flavor combination!

Food Processor Dough (below)
2 TBLS water
1 cup 3/8" pared eggplant cubes
1/2 cup thinly sliced zucchini
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 small onion, sliced
1/2 cup coarsely chopped tomato
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 lb mild Italian sausage, cooked, drained
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 TBLS marj or butter, melted

Prepare food processor dough (below).

Place water, eggplant, zucchini, green pepper, and onion in med saucepan. Cover and heat to boiling. Reduce heat & simmer until eggplant is softened, 3-4 mins. Drain. Stir in tomato, Ital seasoning and cooked sausage. Cover to keep warm.

Grease 8x2 1/2" springform pan. Stir down dough Turn 2/3 of dough onto lightly floured surface; roll into 11" circle. Ease dough into pan, patting 1 1/2" up side. Layer 1 cup of mozz cheese, then the sausage mixture, and remaining cheese evenly over dough in pan (filling should not come above edge of dough). Roll remaining dough into 9" circle and cut into 8 wedges. Arrange wedges in circle on top of filling, slightly overlapping edges, tucking end under. Brush dough with margarine. Cover and let rise in warm place for 30 mins.

Heat over to 375 degrees. Bake until golden brown, about 40-45 mins. Cool 10-15 mins before serving.

FOOD PROCESSOR DOUGH
1 pkg yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 TBLS sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup margarine or butter, slightly softened
2 eggs

Dissolve yeast in warm water in small bowl; add sugar. Let stand 10 mins. Place flour and salt in food processor and process 3-4 seconds. Cut margarine into cubes and arrange on flour. Process 15 seconds. Add eggs, one at a time, processing 5 seconds after each. Add yeast mixture and process until dough cleans side of bowl, 2-10 seconds. Place dough in greased bowl, turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 1 hour.



NOTES: This sounds complicated and involved, but it's really not, just steps, so plan ahead. To simplify this, I just make up the dough in my KitchenAid. I make up the veg/saus filling early in the day and refrigerate. I also throw all the veggies in one bowl and soften them in the mirco for a few mins instead of the stove. I make this in a 9x13 baking pan, rolling the dough out nice and thin for the bottom, layering the cheese & veg/saus layers, and another thin crust for top.