Stromboli

This recipe is always a big hit. I have 2 ways of making it one is very easy and the other takes some time. My husband loves stromboli, but I hated having to let the bread dough rise everytime I made this recipe. It was so good, but such a long process! I was watching Rachel Ray one day and saw her make stomboli a very simple way and I love it! I actually got his mother to do it this way as well. Why make the dough yourself everytime when you can already have it made! I will add both ways, so you can choose which you prepfer.

The photos I took are from the home made bread dough. If you use Pilsbury already made dough, the strombolis wont come out quite as large.

Ingredients:
*Dough- I use fresh dough from the bakery, you can use frozen dough as well, but you will have to wait on it to thaw before using.
*Pepperoni- or any topping of your choice.
* 1 block of mozzarella cheese
*butter
*red pepper
*garlic salt

Cooking directions:
If u use frozen dough only use half of a loaf for one stromboli b/c more dough will make it so big! Let the dough rise a bit before cooking. If its hot outside you can stick your dough on a cookie sheet and cover w/ a hand towel and let rise. This can take awhile depending on if the dough is frozen or not.

Next its good to knead the dough a little, then spread it out on the counter. I always put a little flour down so the dough wont stick. Use a rolling pin or plasic cup, My rolling pin is in storage so I used a plastic cup this time. Roll the dough out like it shows in the picture above.

Then add cheese on just half and pepperoni on top, add as much to your liking. Fold the side of the dough w/o the toppings on top of the other side.

Next pinch the corners so the dough connects on all sides. I usually can fit 2 stromboli's on one cookie sheet.Pre-heat the oven to 350 and bake for about 25-30 mins. When you pull the storomboli out of the oven I add a little butter to the top probably about 1/2 tsp (Please note that adding butter will make the stromboli a little greasy, the recipe tastes just fine w/o adding it). After I add just a pinch of garlic salt and if you like red pepper add just a pinch as well.

Here is a better picture of what it will turn out to look like. You can serve it as a whole or slice in strips to serve.