It is purely on principle that I am changing the title of this bread recipe.

Tootie Bread?

C’mon. What kind of name is that?

Tootie is the name of annoying characters on (the annoying) Facts Of Life and The Fairly Odd Parents. So, not too cool.

When my kids were little, toots were a noisy bottom emission.

In old black and white movies, toots is interchangeable with babe (or a tart): “Hiya, Toots, whaddya say we blow this joint and head over to the speakeasy?”

Then there’s that popular preschool song called ‘A Tooty Ta Ta’ (really??) that tells the kids to put their “Thumbs up, Elbows back, Knees together, Feet apart, Bottoms up, Head back, Tongue out” and look completely and utterly ridiculous.

But Hot Patootie…now we’re talking. The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack still gets regular rotation on my stereo and there’s nothing like some Meatloaf Eddie belting out Hot Patootie to get me all fired up.

I have no idea what the origin of Tootie Bread is, but the recipe is widely available on the internet without credit being given to any source.

What I do know is that this is one mighty fine, buttery loaf packed with cheese and bacon. The onion, poppy seed and mustard give it a really special flavor.

Hot Patootie Bread

Ingredients:

1 loaf French bread
8 oz Swiss cheese slices
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 Tbs prepared mustard
1 Tbs poppy seeds
4 slices uncooked bacon, finely chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400℉ degrees.

2. Partially slice the bread into 16 pieces.

3. Cut each slice of cheese diagonally and place one triangle of cheese between each slice of bread.

4. Place bread on a foil covered baking sheet.

5. Combine onion, butter, mustard and poppy seeds; mix well. Spread the bread on top and sides with mixture. Press pieces of bacon on top.

6. Bake for 20 minutes and serve hot.

And here is the other Hot Patootie. Bless my soul.

Cheers!