Valentine’s Day Elk Sausage Loaf

by Wapiti Ways

• This recipe is a " Family " one and is often made especially, for a Valentine's Day treat.

” The rose is red, the violet’s blue
  The honey’s sweet, and so are you
  Thou are my love and I am thine
  I drew thee to my Valentine
  The lot was cast and then I drew
  And Fortune said it shou’d be you.”

-  Gammer Gurton’s Garland -  1784

 
INGREDIENTS:
2 Tsp. Oregano       1 Tsp. Fennel Seed
2 Tsp. Thyme         2 Tsp. Black Pepper
2 Tsp. Basil           1 lb. WAPITI WAYS ITALIAN SAUSAGE
2 Tsp. Chervil         1 Onion
2 Tsp. Rosemary     4 Cloves Garlic
2 Pkges. Yeast       2 cups White Wine
2 Tbsp. Sugar         1 Tbsp. Salt
1 Egg                 Approx. one half lb. Provolone Cheese Rounds
5 to 5 1/2 c. flour     2 Tbsp. Oil

DIRECTIONS:
  Add spices together in a bowl, with 3 Tbsp. of oil and let sit for an hour.
Saute 1 lb. of WAPITI WAYS ITALIAN SAUSAGE [ remove sausage from
casings, first], with one, cut-up onion, and 4 cloves of chopped garlic.
Put sauteed mixture on paper towels to de-oil, and pat dry.
  Add 2 packages of fast rising yeast to 2 warmed cups of white wine,
[ slightly warmer than room temperature] and let sit for 5 minutes.
Then stir in 2 Tbsp. sugar, 1 Tbsp. salt, and the herb mixture.
  Stir in flour, one cup at a time, for a total of 5 to 5 1/2 cups.
  Put dough in a buttered bowl,  cover with a tea towel, and place
in your oven [ do not heat oven, just turn the oven light on] for
1 and 1/2 hours.
  Punch down dough and roll out on a floured countertop, into a circle,
approximately 15 inches in diameter.
  Spread sausage mixture over the dough circle, and then layer Provolone
cheese rounds, to cover.
  Then GENTLY, roll by hand into a log and tuck the ends under.
  Place into a greased Springform pan, in a semi-circle shaped loaf,
and back into the oven [ with the oven light on], again, to rise for one hour.
  Brush egg/water wash gently, over the loaf, and bake at 400 degrees
for 45 to 50 minutes

  Eat and enjoy, and HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!