I like pizza

Make no bones about it, I like pizza. Whether it's chain pizza, greasy pizza, fancy pizza, calzones, strombolis, breakfast or dessert...if it's pizza I am happy. I love trying new and unusual toppings (mmmm, potato and bacon last week) or just having plain cheese. And I routinely say I am only going to have one slice to see that I have polished off 3 :)

I make my own pizza doughs - a proper one with yeast if I have the time and patience, or a biscuit crust recipe handed down from my mother. I use pita bread, french bread, naan bread and canned dough. I'll use regular pizza sauce, alfredo, salsa or hot sauce. I think you get the picture...I like pizza...A LOT.

So while perusing JBug's Kitchen Antics in an effort to not write my essay last week I saw she had made a stromboli roll that looked quick and simple. How wrong can you go with pizza that is dipped in marinara sauce? (Dip is my second favourite food...and we could go on and on about the virtues of dip).

This is truly one of the easiest recipes you can make if you go with a tube of pillsbury pizza dough (like I did). This takes literally not even five minutes to put together - perfect for during the week. And get creative - just about anything could go in here and be tasty (I had one once with broccoli and asparagus...yum!).

After 35 minutes, this beautiful looking roll came out of the oven.

Full of pepperoni, salami, ham, spinach, roasted red pepper and cheese....it tasted just as good on it's own as it did dipped in the marinara.

Stromboli Roll
Adapted from myrecipes.com and JBug's Kitchen Antics

Purchased pizza dough

1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
4 ounces sliced pepperoni
4 ounces sliced ham
4 ounces sliced salami
1 cup drained roasted red peppers, patted dry
2 cups fresh spinach, washed and patted dry

1 teaspoon dried oregano
Red pepper flakes to taste
½ tablespoon olive oil

Marinara sauce (I used a herb and garlic sauce)

Preheat oven to 350. Place foil on a large baking sheet, spray with cooking spray and set aside.

On a well floured board or piece of parchment paper, roll prepared dough to a 16 x 9 inch rectangle. Layer ingredients down length of dough, in the center as follows – ½ cheese, pepperoni, ham, peppers, spinach, salami, and remaining half of cheese. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and oregano. Bring long edges of dough together in center and pinch together. Trim short ends with a knife and pinch to seal edges. Place prepared baking sheet upside down on to roll, and flip board and sheet over so floured board is on top with the roll on the sheet seam side down. Remove board carefully and brush roll with olive oil. Cut 6 vents on top with a sharp knife for ventilation, being careful not to cut all the way through.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with marinara sauce on the side.