From the Kitchen: Easy Stromboli

Stromboli was a staple dinner item in our house growing up, and it remains a popular dinner choice in my house now!  It is a great casual meal to feed a crowd, because you can double, triple, or quadruple the recipe and it really doesn't take any longer than making a single recipe, since the prep time is mostly assembly.  I've made it in multiple big-group settings, like ski trips and family gatherings, and it's always a crowd-pleaser.  I've also made it several times for friends with new babies, especially since it is just as good reheated (or cold!) the next day as it is fresh out of the oven!  I usually double the recipe when I make it at home just so we can eat the leftovers for lunch!

Easy Stromboli

Yield: 1 Stromboli (feeds 3-4 people)
Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 loaf frozen bread dough*

¼ lb hard salami, thinly sliced

¼ lb deli ham, thinly sliced

½ tsp dried basil

½ tsp ground oregano

¼ lb sliced provolone cheese

¼ lb shredded mozzarella cheese

2 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp yellow cornmeal

*this is frozen RAW bread dough.  I always buy it at Kroger (it's the Kroger brand) in the freezer section with the rolls and bread. It comes with 5 loaves in a package.  I think it's called "Homestyle".

Directions:

Thaw the frozen bread dough (follow the thawing directions on the package; you can thaw it all day in the refrigerator or in a few hours on the counter). 

After the bread dough is thawed, use your hands to flatten it into a rectangle on a greased cookie sheet (approximatey 12x18”).  Layer the salami, ham, and provolone and mozzarella cheeses in a row down the center (this should take up the center 1/3 of the bread dough rectangle).  

Sprinkle the basil and oregano on top of the meat and cheese. 

Fold the sides of the bread dough toward the center, using your fingers to seal the 2 sides together.  Also fold over and seal the 2 ends to fully seal the ingredients inside the stromboli (otherwise they will leak out when you bake the stromboli).  Brush the outside of the stromboli with melted butter and sprinkle with yellow cornmeal.  Flip the stromboli over and do the same on the other side. 

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until lightly brown on top. 

Remove from the oven and slice into pieces about 1.5 inches wide.  Enjoy!