Spicy Pizza Dip

My hubby was looking through my Rachel Ray magazine the other day & came across this recipe.  He immediately showed it to me and said we had to try it.  I'm glad he was so insistent because it was amazing!

And since Super Bowl Sunday is coming up (it's this Sunday everyone!) I figured I'd post it for all you football fans out there to add to your party goodies.  We always have lots of fabulous goodies & food for Super Bowl Sunday, even if we don't watch the game.  We only watch if one of my families teams are playing, which they are not this year.  We've got Broncos and Steelers fans in our home, so I don't know if we'll tune in this year or not.   Are any of our readers huge Ravens or 49er's fans?  Who do you predict will win on Sunday?

You'll all be winners to your family/friends if you make and serve them this!:)

Spicy Pizza Dip

PRINT RECIPE

 

 

1 large round sour dough, Italian or french bread loaf

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minces or pressed

10 ounces hot Italian sausage

1 jar (16 oz.) pizza sauce

4 ounces mozzarella, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon oregano leaves (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut out the center of your bread, leaving about a 1 inch border.  Hollow out the bread and make sure to leave about a 1 inch bottom.

Cut the bread you cut out of your loaf into strips.  Place on a large baking sheet and drizzle 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over them.  Toss to coat.  Place the bread bowl along with your bread strips onto a cooking sheet.  Bake until the inside of the bread bowl is toasted, about 5-7 minutes. 

Remove the bread bowl to a platter.  Stir the bread strips around and put back in the oven for another 5 minutes.  Transfer to the platter with the bread bowl.

Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add the garlic and sausage.  Cook until browned.  Add the pizza sauce and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Place your bread bowl back onto your baking sheet and pour sauce into it.  Top with the shredded Parmesan cheese and then layer the mozzarella over top so no sauce is visible.  Bake until the cheese is nice and browned, about 10 minutes.  Top with oregano (optional).

Return filled bread bowl back to the platter with the bread strips & serve.

NOTE:  You can absolutely use mild sausage if you'd like.  We used the hot and I was afraid it would be too hot for me, but it was perfect...but the choice is yours!:)