Recipes

[ciao_bella]

A few weeks ago, I bought a bunch of Aldi fresh pizza dough and froze it. So, I thawed one of the packages of it in the fridge for a day or two. I then put it in an oiled bowl and covered it with oiled plastic wrap and left it on the counter (warmest area) for a couple of hours until it was room temperature and doubled in size.

Then I stretched and rolled it out on a floured surface to a roughly 12 X 9 rectangle. I put about 1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese leaving about 2 inches clear along one long edge.

Added some hot pepper rings, salami slices, deli pepperoni slices, thin slices of ham and topped with more cheese. Roll its like a jelly roll the long way towards the clear edge. (Ingredients may push forward as you roll).

Wet the dough on the edge and leave it seam down. Roll in and pinch close the sides. Carefully lift and place in a baking pan lined with parchment paper. (First time I tried it, I just oiled the pan and placed the stromboli on it.  Second time, I used the parchment paper and that was much better.) 

Spray or brush top lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and oregano, if desired. Cut a few tiny vent slots in the top. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes. Allow to cool about 5 minutes before slicing.  Serve with some warmed up marinara sauce.  

*If you use pepperoni you might get some oil bubbling out of the stromboli as it cooks.  Not a problem.  That's just what happens with a greasy meat like pepperoni.  

[I am still oxox]

Sounds and looks amazing from a New York girl, who's bff in my teen years was Italian and he Mom was an incredible cook. 

[We rescue cats]

That looks amazing!! We love (and make) your walmart french bread pizzas often so will be giving this one a try as well! My stepfather's sister made homemade stromboli, can't wait to try your recipe! Thank you for awakening memories of Aunt Santina!

[ciao_bella]

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@We rescue cats wrote:

That looks amazing!! We love (and make) your walmart french bread pizzas often so will be giving this one a try as well! My stepfather's sister made homemade stromboli, can't wait to try your recipe! Thank you for awakening memories of Aunt Santina!

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@We rescue cats    Glad you like the French Bread Pizza recipe.  There are many pizza dough recipes that one can use to make this  stromboli, but if I can get away with finding the dough already made, why not?  Less work for me!   

There are many grocery stores that sell fresh pizza dough by the pound in a plastic bag.  The Aldi store is about 5 minutes from my house, so I grab the fesh dough there when they have it.  It freezes well too.  

[PA Mom-mom]

@ciao_bella  Your stromboli looks fantastic! It's neatly put together, and the pizza dough looks light and yummy! You could sell that to me for quite a bit!

I used to make it when the kids were still at home, but it usually looked a lot sloppier than your beautiful example. Stromboli is one of my favorites, but DH has to be low carb these days due to blood sugar. 

My heart is yearning right now!

[Mz iMac]

@ciao_bella   Stromboli is my favorite winter comfort food.  Your incredients are the same as the frozen strombolis I get from my grocery store.

I would gladly pay you to make one for me.

[ciao_bella]

UPDATE:  I should have mentioned in my original post, the store bought Aldi fresh dough was $1.35 for the 16 ounce bag.  That's quite a good deal.  

[Pezzie]

@ciao_bella what time is dinner?  I will bring the salad.

Thanks for the recipe and the tips.  Looks amazing and will be giving it a try.  

[LizzieInSRQ]

@ciao_bella your photos are magazine quality! You did a great job and your description/instructions are really good! Thank you!

[Lucky Charm]

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@ciao_bella wrote:

A few weeks ago, I bought a bunch of Aldi fresh pizza dough and froze it. So, I thawed one of the packages of it in the fridge for a day or two. I then put it in an oiled bowl and covered it with oiled plastic wrap and left it on the counter (warmest area) for a couple of hours until it was room temperature and doubled in size.

Then I stretched and rolled it out on a floured surface to a roughly 12 X 9 rectangle. I put about 1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese leaving about 2 inches clear along one long edge.

Added some hot pepper rings, salami slices, deli pepperoni slices, thin slices of ham and topped with more cheese. Roll its like a jelly roll the long way towards the clear edge. (Ingredients may push forward as you roll).

Wet the dough on the edge and leave it seam down. Roll in and pinch close the sides. Carefully lift and place in a baking pan lined with parchment paper. (First time I tried it, I just oiled the pan and placed the stromboli on it.  Second time, I used the parchment paper and that was much better.) 

Spray or brush top lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and oregano, if desired. Cut a few tiny vent slots in the top. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes. Allow to cool about 5 minutes before slicing.  Serve with some warmed up marinara sauce.  

*If you use pepperoni you might get some oil bubbling out of the stromboli as it cooks.  Not a problem.  That's just what happens with a greasy meat like pepperoni.  

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Their's looks much more professional than mine.  I see they didn't cut slits in the top.  Once or twice I didn't and the cheeses still found their way out! 

I use uncured genoa salami and prosciutto for meats.  I sneak in spinach leaves that have been sauteed with onions.

I brush dough with a mixture of olive oil infused with garlic salt (Simpy Organics has a tasty one with chopped parsley in it).