Sage Braid Recipes

SAGE BRAID

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 16-inch-long, 3/4-inch-wide rope.
• Braid 3 ropes together on a prepared sheet, tucking in sage leaves as you work. Pinch ends to seal; tuck under loaf. Brush with beaten egg. Drape loosely with buttered plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough, sage leaves, and egg wash. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about 55 minutes.
• Bake loaves until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Brush center with butter and continue baking until outer crust sounds hollow when bottom is tapped, about 8 minutes more. Brush all over with butter. Let cool completely on a wire rack before serving.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE BREAD

Steps:

• Line a cookie sheet with non-stick foil, set aside.
• Melt butter in a large skillet, add onions, salt, pepper and parsley. Cook onions until they are translucent, then add the garlic. Cook the onions until they are carmelized.
• Remove the onions to a bowl, leaving the extra butter in the pan.
• Put the sausage into pan and chop it into bite sized chunks. Cook the sausage until it is browned.
• Add the onions back to the pan with the sausage and cover with a lid. Simmer on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. DO NOT let it burn.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350.
• Flour a surface and roll out one dough ball with a rolling pin until it is the size of a large pizza. Try not to let it get any thin spots or holes.
• When the sausage mixture is finished, use a slotted spoon to scoop half of it onto the dough and spread it evenly over the surface. You will save the other half for the second dough. Cover with a layer of half the shredded mozzarella.
• Roll the dough up like a cinnamon roll, but tuck in the ends like a burrito before you get to the end of the roll.
• Lay it with the flap down on the cookie sheet and brush with the egg white.
• Bake in the oven until golden brown, approximately 25-30 minutes. After baking, let the bread rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
• Repeat process for second loaf.
• Slice and serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

GARDEN HERB BRAID

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, salt and herbs. In a saucepan, heat the milk, water and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add egg; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. , Divide dough into thirds. Shape each portion into a 15-in. rope. Place ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Cover; let rise until doubled, about 20 minutes., Bake 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter. Combine herbs; sprinkle over bread. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

OLD-FASHIONED BREAD STUFFING WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º. Spread bread cubes on two large baking sheets and toast for 30 minutes, stirring and rotating pans, until lightly browned and crisp. Transfer to very large bowl when done.
• Meanwhile, in large skillet, melt 1 stick of butter. Pour half the melted butter in a bowl and reserve for later, to brush the top of the stuffing. To the pan with remaining melted butter, add celery, carrots and onion, a sprinkle of salt, and cook and stir over medium-high heat until softened and starting to brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer vegetables to bowl. Add sausage to skillet in chunks, and cook, breaking it up with wooden spoon, until cooked through and lightly browned, about 6 minutes.
• Return vegetable mixture to the skillet and add the sage and thyme, a little salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 cup of stock, cook and stir up any browned bits, until stock is reduced and cooked down by half, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer sausage mixture to bowl with the toasted bread cubes. Add remaining 2 to 2½ cups of stock and toss well until bread cubes are evenly moistened. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Spread stuffing into large, buttered baking dish (about 3½ quart size) and brush with the reserved melted butter.
• Bake in center of oven until heated through and nicely browned, about 1 hour, rotating casserole halfway through. Let stuffing rest 10 minutes before serving.

ORANGE SAGE BREAD

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, add the orange juice, water, vegetable oil, grated orange rind, sugar, yeast, sage, and salt.
• Mix until the yeast and sugar are dissolved.
• Mix in enough flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead it for about 5 minutes. Add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
• Put the dough in a greased bowl, turning it so all sides are lightly greased.
• Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
• Punch down the dough.
• Turn it out onto a lightly floured board and quickly knead the dough for about 2 minutes to get the air bubbles out.
• Shape the dough into a loaf .
• Place the loaf in a greased 9- by 5- by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan.
• Cover and let rise for 30 minutes or until doubled.
• Bake at 375 F for 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
• Serve and enjoy!

SAGE PESTO

Steps:

• Process walnuts, parsley, sage, and garlic together in a food processor until coarsely ground. With the food processor still running, slowly stream olive oil into the mixture until completely integrated into a smooth mixture. Add Pecorino Romano cheese, salt, and pepper; continue to process until the mixture has the consistency of a loose paste.

MILK-BRAISED PORK WITH LEMON AND SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high until shimmering. Season pork all over with salt and pepper and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 12-15 minutes. Pour off excess fat from pot. Add sage, lemon peel, and milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover pot and transfer to oven. Roast pork until very tender, 3 1/2-4 hours.
• Transfer meat to a serving platter. Discard lemon peel, then gently toss Swiss chard in remaining sauce in pot until wilted. Using tongs, transfer Swiss chard to platter alongside pork. Top both with remaining sauce and serve.