Just in time for the Super Bowl! This recipe serves about six people, so if you’re having a party you might want to double it.

Dough:  (or use your favorite bread dough recipe, such as Easy Wheat Bread)
1 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 pkg. yeast
3 cups flour

Filling:
1 lb. ground beef
½ cup diced onions
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup prepared mustard
¼ cup dill pickles, diced
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
sesame seeds

To prepare dough:
Mix together the water, oil, salt, sugar and yeast. Mix until yeast is dissolved. Stir in flour. Work into a smooth ball. Put in lightly oiled bowl and cover to rise.

To prepare filling:
Brown ground beef and onions until beef is no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain all excess fat. Mix in ketchup, mustard, pickles, and crumbled bacon. Set aside to cool.

Roll dough into 12×18-inch rectangle. Spread filling down center of rectangle. Sprinkle with cheese. Cut sides into strips for braid; braid dough over filling, tucking end under to hold filling in. Place on greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 15-20 minutes.  Brush with egg wash; sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until nicely browned. Remove from oven, cool for 5 minutes to let cheese set before slicing and serving.

Variations:

Instead of braiding, spread filling over rectangle, sprinkle with cheese, and roll like a jelly roll. Place seam-side down on baking sheet and bake as directed.

Make individual calzones. Divide dough into serving-size pieces; roll into tortilla-size round. Put ¼ cup of filling; top with cheese. Fold dough over filling and crimp to seal edges. Brush with egg wash; prick with fork; sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake as directed.

1/2 cup creamy mustard-mayo blend (I just add a good squirt of mustard to some mayo; mix)
4 10-inch flour tortillas
4 large lettuce leaves
1/2 lb. thinly sliced smoked turkey
1/2 lb. thinly sliced ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
8 slices bacon, cooked until crisp (break into pieces or leave whole as desired)
salt and pepper if desired

Spread mustard-mayo blend over 1 side of each tortilla, leaving 1/2 inch border. Place 1 lettuce leaf on each tortilla, then layer turkey, ham, tomatoes, onion, bacon, salt and pepper. Top with shredded cheese. Wrap sides together and hold with toothpick. (Since this has a lot of filling, I wrap one side over the other, making sort of a V-shape, then I wrap a folded dinner napkin around the bottom half, edges of napkin meeting in the back. Helps hold it together when placed on a plate. Great presentation too!) Serve with a big pickle wedge, chips and fresh fruit cup.