Simple Stromboli

There comes along, once in a blue moon, the kind of experience we Moms dream of.  I'm not talking about having "Me Time" with your girlfriends, sleeping in past 7am on a weekend or even getting to pee alone (although those are all high on the wish list of Moms of young kids). 

I'm talking about the situation where after hours of working away in a hot kitchen to prepare sustenance for our families our dream of having a meal where NO ONE complains, gripes, grouses or whimpers about the food is finally realized.  Honestly, this experience is so rare that it's like sighting the Loch Ness Monster AND Big Foot in the cereal aisle of your local food store.  This experience is that rare and oh so very coveted!

This Simple Stromboli is one of those Holy Grail meals where all five of us loved what we were eating and at first I wasn't sure how to take it.  Where were the wary looks and question "What's for dinner tonight?"? This question is typically repeated over and over which I can only assume my kids do to either: 1) make me lose my mind or 2) ask in the hopes that the answer will suddenly change and morph into something that they actually want to consume.  I was waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop and the complaining to commence ... and it never did. 

There I quietly sat as my family dug in to this Stromboli carefully eyeing my kids as they put forkfuls of this Stromboli into their mouths.  But I heard nary a grievance, squawk or grumble from the kid faction at my table.  In an attempt (I believe) to permanently get my jaw to stay on the floor my boys even went up for seconds .... and then third helpings!  Then they proceeded to argue about who would get the leftovers.  Okay, what the heck is going ON!?! 

As I was eating my piece of the Stromboli, warily eyeing my small humans, I was thinking that either I'm being Punk'd or should prepare to see Nessy buying some Froot Loops in the local Zehrs soon.  I was also waiting for the 'how much do I have to eat before I can get down?' cacophony of whining to begin but instead heard my kids and husband talk about their day.  So THIS is what it feels like to win the Super Bowl and Lottery at the same time!! 

It was Supper Nirvana ... and I truly loved it.

Simple Stromboli

1 1/2 lbs bread dough (**The recipe I used with my bread maker is below**)
10-12 slices of Italian salami (I used mild)
8-10 slices of ham
1 1/2 cups of pepperoni, thinly sliced
2 cups marble cheese, shredded
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Garnish -- 1/2 cup pizza sauce

Using your bread machine (or buy the bread dough frozen from your local food store) prepare bread dough using the Dough setting on your bread machine (usually takes about 2 hours).

Preheat oven to 425F.

Very lightly dust a large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with flour.  Place bread dough onto the prepared pan and roll out until it touches the sides of the pan -- approximately 1/2-inch in thickness.

Layer salami, ham and pepperoni down the centre of the dough (you'll be folding the long sides of the dough over the fillings so make sure you don't go too wide with your toppings). 

Sprinkle shredded cheese over the meat.  Wrap the long edges of the dough over the filling ingredients and pinch the seams (as well as the seams along the ends). 

Brush the top of the Stromboli with the beaten egg white.

Bake in the preheated oven until dough is nicely browned, approximately 18-20 minutes. 

Allow Stromboli to sit for a few minutes to allow the cheese to set a bit. Slice into approximately 2 inch servings.  Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Bread Dough
Inspired by: All-In-One Automatic Breadmaker (Black and Decker) - Basic White Bread

1 1/4 cup water
1 tbsp powdered milk
2 tbsp shortening
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp bread machine yeast

Measure ingredients in the order listed into the Baking Pan then place pan into your bread machine.  Select 'Dough' setting (process should take approximately 2 hours).