Smoked Bratwurst and Sauerkraut Zeppelin

Subs, grinders, hoagies and zeppelins.  These are names of sandwiches that are made with an Italian or French bread loaf that is sliced lengthwise.  Grinders usually refer to as a hot oven baked sub sandwich.  Zeppelin or blimp is another name for a sub sandwich.
     Since this sub has German ingredients, zeppelin is a good name to use.  This is a simple sandwich recipe that is great after a busy day.  A dark pumpernickel or whole wheat loaf of bread are good choices for this sandwich.
     Recipe:  Split a sub roll or baguette in half lengthwise, but don't cut all the way through the bread.
     Split the bread loaf open and lay it crust side down on a baking pan.
     Cover the bread with thin slices of swiss cheese.
     Heat some rinsed sauerkraut and a smoked bratwurst sausage in a sauce pan over medium heat.
     Drain the excess liquid from the sauerkraut.
     Place the sauerkraut on the cheese that is on the bottom half of the sub roll.
     Either place a whole bratwurst sausage on the bread or thin slice the hot bratwurst and place the slices on the sauerkraut on the sandwich.
     Bake the sandwich, "open faced" in a 400 degree oven till the bread is lightly toasted and the cheese has melted.
     Fold the top half of the zeppelin that only has melted cheese on it over top of the bratwurst and sauerkraut.
     Set the sandwich on a plate.
     Serve with pickles and potato salad.  Serve some German mustard on the side.
     The potato salad shown in the picture was made with boiled red bliss potatoes, green onion, celery, sweet pickle relish, dijon mustard, mayonnaise, sea salt, black pepper and dill weed.
     This is a nice alternative to a reuben sandwich.  The aroma of smoked bratwurst, swiss cheese and sauerkraut is so yummy!  This zeppelin is a great Octoberfest sandwich.  Pour a stein of German bier and enjoy this nice hot zeppelin!  ... Shawna