Stromboli

Michael's family has what they call a Bake-off - it isn't a competition as the name sounds like but really just everyone brings something they made and everyone pigs out! His sister-in-law makes something that looks just like Stromboli but she calls it something different. Michael loves it though and asked me if I could try to make it sometime. I haven't been brave enough to ask for her recipe so just came up with something that seemed similar. I have tried a few times now and it tastes so good. It is a good alternative to pizza. This is good for dinner with a big salad. Or served as an appetizer for a party. I haven't tried it with homemade bread dough yet but hope to at some point. I just wanted to try to get the flavors down before I messed with getting a homemade dough to go with it.

1 loaf frozen bread dough - cut in half
2 to 3 Mild Italian Sausages (sausage removed from casing)
1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell peppers
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups mozzarella


In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well on paper towels. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan. Add the onions, and red bell peppers and cook, stirring, until very soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and cool.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough to a large rectangle, about 10 by 14 inches. Spread half of the cooled sausage mixture across the dough leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle with cheese. Using a pastry brush, paint the border of 1 long edge with egg wash. Starting at the opposite long end without egg wash, roll up the dough into a cylinder, pinching the edges to seal. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Do the same with the other half of the dough. Let the dough rise, 20 to 30 minutes. Brush the top of each Stromboli with egg wash. Bake until nearly completely golden brown and starting to crisp, about 20 minutes

Remove from the oven and let stand 10 minutes. Slice thickly and serve.