Italian Sausage Sandwich Casserole

     I liked the looks of this recipe, it sounded so creamy and good and since the ingredients are cooked in advance, all you have to do is heat it in your dutch oven until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling.  The cream cheese and mayo add to the richness, if you're watching the calories you can certainly use low fat versions of both with chicken sausage.  Oil your dutch oven well, to protect it from the acid in the tomato sauce as well as preventing the 'sandwiches' from sticking.  In my 12 inch dutch oven, they baked for 30 minutes with 12 coals in a ring around the bottom, 16 in a ring around the outside of the lid and 10 spaced evenly in the center.  Remember this casserole the next time you're feeding a group of hungry teenagers, it's kid friendly, easy and filling too.

Italian Sausage Sandwich Casserole
1 1/2 lbs Italian sausage, cooked, drained and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 1 lb loaf fresh Italian bread, cut into 1 inch slices
1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

     Lightly oil or spray 12 inch or larger dutch oven.
     In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, basil and oregano until well combined.
     Spread bread slices generously with cream cheese mixture and place in a single layer in prepared oven.
     Combine sauce, garlic and sausage in medium bowl.
     Spoon over bread slices, top with Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
     Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and cheese has melted.
     Makes 6-8 servings.

Spread thick slices of Italian bread with cream cheese mixture

Spoon sauce and sausage over bread then sprinkle with cheeses

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbling

A stick to your ribs casserole