Recipes:
## French Bread Pizza
### INGREDIENTS
* 1 (16-inch) loaf French bread
* 1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 8 ounces hot Italian sausage, sliced
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1 cup sliced mushrooms
* ½ cup sliced black olives
* 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
* 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
* ¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil **or** 4 teaspoons dried basil
* ½ cup pizza sauce
* 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
**SERVES:** 4
---
### MAKE AHEAD
Prepare the sausage mixture in steps 2 and 3 up to **4 hours in advance**. Refrigerate until ready to use.
---
### VARIATION
You can turn this French bread pizza into an **extra spicy Italian dish** by topping it with **pepperoni slices**.
---
### DIRECTIONS
**1.** Preheat oven to **350°F**. Cut bread horizontally into halves. Cut each half into halves. Place on baking sheet. Brush bread with olive oil.
**2.** Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add sausage, onion, mushrooms and olives. Cook, stirring, until sausage is browned and crumbly, about **5 minutes**.
**3.** Add bell pepper to skillet. Cook until tender, about **5 minutes**; drain. Mix tomatoes and basil in a small bowl.
**4.** Layer pizza sauce, tomato mixture and sausage mixture on bread. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake until bread is toasted and cheese is melted, about **15 minutes**. Serve immediately.
---
### Make It Quicker
* Save valuable time by purchasing **pre-sliced French bread loaves** that are already brushed with olive oil. They are available in the **frozen food section** of your supermarket.
---
