Italian Sausage Bread Pizza

Ingredients:

1 lb bulk mild or spicy Italian pork sausage

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, halved, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 cup pizza sauce or tomato pasta sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 loaf French bread (about 14 inches long)

2/3 cup ricotta cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 425°F. Lightly spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray.

In 12-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Push sausage to edges of skillet; add 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened. Remove from heat; stir in pizza sauce, oregano, pepper flakes and salt.

With serrated knife, cut bread in half lengthwise; scoop out center of each bread half, leaving 1/2-inch border (discard removed bread or reserve for making bread crumbs). Place bread halves on cookie sheet. Spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta cheese down center of each; top evenly with sausage mixture, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle loaves with remaining 1 tablespoon oil.

Bake 6 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Cut into slices. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Recipe shared from: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/italian-sausage-bread-pizza/244961e9-fea3-405e-999a-97d3b8962887#?st=6&term=cheesy bread&ps=9&pi=9