I used to make this so often that I had the recipe memorized. There is plenty of room for adaptation with the filling and I have changed the ingredients and the amounts with success every time. Because I do everything to taste with this particular recipe I do not have measurements for some of the ingredients. Start by making the dough first so that it has time to rise while you are making the filling.

Dough:
1 tsp salt
3 1/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 package rapid rise yeast

1 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk

Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Heat the water milk and butter. You only want to heat this to where it is warm to the touch, once it reaches this point I take it off the heat to allow the butter to finish melting. Then create a well in the flour mixture and pour the warm liquid into the well. Mix and then kneed for 5 minute. The dough will be smooth and elastic. Roll the dough out to a rectangular shape to fit on a 12 x 15 1/2 cookie sheet. You can sprinkle some corn meal onto the sheet (optional) then transfer the dough to the sheet and allow to rise while you make the filling.

Filling:
3/4 pound ground beef
Green peppers
Onion
Chili powder
Garlic salt
White pepper (optional)
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
Shredded cheese (recommend Mexican blend or cheddar)

Brown the meat and add the peppers and onions and allow to cook. Add the spices and once the onions and peppers have had a chance to cook add the tomato sauce. Transfer the filling to the dough – you want to create a line down the middle with equal amounts of dough exposed on both sides. Cover the dough with the shredded cheese basically I just use one or two handfuls but again this can be adjusted to your taste. Using a knife, cut approximately one inch strips in the dough along both sides of the filling. Braid the dough overlapping alternate strips of the dough until the entire loaf has been braided.

You can coat with an egg wash but it is not necessary. Bake at 400ยบ for 20 minutes allow to cool slightly and cut in approx. one inch increments and enjoy.


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