Cheeseburger Garlic Loaf

I made a Cheeseburger Garlic Loaf for supper. Sometimes I just use seasoned ground beef and cheese and roll it up in bread dough or in the center of bread buns. This time I added some sauce in with the meat and it was so good. This recipe does take a bit of time, but definitely worth it when you sit down to eat. 

Ingredients

2 Pkg. active dry yeast
3 Tbs. sugar
1/2 c. warm water
1 1/2 c. lukewarm milk
1/2 c. butter or shortening
6 garlic cloves
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 tsp. salt
5 1/2 to 6 c. flour

Cheeseburger Filling 

1 lb. ground beef
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, chopped
1/3 to 1/2 c. spaghetti sauce
1/4 c. ketchup
1 Tbs. prepared mustard
1 Tbs. honey
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. liquid smoke
Salt and pepper
8 oz. cheese, shredded or thinly sliced
garlic powder.

Directions

In a large bowl, soak yeast and sugar in the warm water. Allow the yeast to sit for 5 minutes in a warm location to make sure it is active.

Add milk, salt, butter or shortening, egg and 2 cups flour. Beat with a mixer or by hand with a wooden spoon until it is a smooth batter.

Add remaining flour until dough becomes too stiff to mix with a spoon. Turn the dough out on a floured board and knead for about 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic and no longer sticky.   You can also work the dough in a bread machine or with your mixer using the dough hook according to manufacture's directions. 

Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a tea towel or sheet of plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm location, while you prepare the filling. 

In a heavy cast iron skillet, brown ground beef, onion and garlic together until ground beef is no longer pink. Drain off excess grease.  

Add the spaghetti sauce, ketchup, mustard, and honey. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook to reduce the liquid content, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool a bit. 

Divide the dough in half, with one half being just a bit bigger. Roll the bigger dough ball into a large rectangle. Spread the meat mixture over the top of the dough. Top with cheese. Fold over an inch of dough on the two narrow ends to keep the filling from leaking out. Roll up in a jellyroll fashion, starting with the long end.  Place the meat filled dough on a cookie sheet.**See notes below.    Divide the other dough into 10 or 12 balls. Place in two greased round cake pans, or a 9 x 9-inch pan. Place in a warm location and let rise for 15 to 20 minutes.  Sprinkle garlic powder over the tops of the cheeseburger loaf and dinner rolls if desired.

Bake at 375° for 15 to 20 minutes, or until browned.

Remove the pan from the oven and rub some butter over the tops of the rolls and cheeseburger loaf for a soft top, and a delicious butter taste.  

Notes: 

I use a large 10-inch by 15-inch greased cake pan. I put the meat filled dough down the center and the diner buns on each side of the dough.