This recipe has so much family history! Nana and Grandad did so much to help us launch. 4-H was important in our mom’s upbringing and she brought it into the city and created a 4-H following to make it a big part of our upbringing (as well as that of a good number of kids we grew up with).
This was a 4-H project recipe as well as a favorite on Creston Drive, Hill Street and 24th Lane.
I have changed the recipe to use ground turkey instead of ground beef and prefer fresh, sauteed mushrooms over canned. And since I have a hard time finding Pilsbury Hot Roll mix, I simply use a bread recipe in my bread-maker. The recipe was a family favorite for my kids and always makes me think of my mom.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 onion, chopped
- 8 oz. or 16 oz. fresh mushrooms, sautéed (give or take)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano (go easy on oregano!)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- either 1 package ‘Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix’ or using ‘dough’ setting on bread-maker, make the dough for a loaf of either white or whole-wheat bread.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In large skillet, combine meat, tomato paste, onion, mushrooms, flour, paprika, oregano, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare either Hot Roll Mix or follow recipe for a loaf of white or whole-wheat bread. On a lightly-floured board, using floured rolling pin, roll dough into 12-inch ‘square’. Place onto an oiled cookie sheet.
- Spoon meat mixture down center third of dough to within 2 inches of both ends. Shape meat into a loaf.
- Sprinkle with cheese.
- Cut 6 diagonal strips of dough (each about 2-inches wide) on each side of meat ‘loaf’.
- Fold dough over meat, criss-crossing strips over the to to ‘braid’.
- Brush top ofo dough with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Cover with foil and put into oven to bake for first 25 min, so it doesn’t burn.
- Then remove foil to let the top of loaf get golden-brown, bake an additional 5 minutes.
- Let set for a few minutes after baking.
- To serve, cut into slices.
