Passing Stromboli to the Next Generation
Making stromboli is a family activity in our household.
I have a history with Stromboli – it all started in grade school where it was everyone’s favorite school lunch. The cooks made it from scratch and more kids went up for seconds than anything else served. I even convinced my mom to make it at home.
Fast forward to today – Stromboli is still a favorite but now that I’m a mom, it’s also a hit with my kids, too. This is a great way to spend some family time, especially on a rainy day. Plus they don’t teach home economics any more – here’s your chance to teach some practical life skills and get a little nostalgic!
Make it a meal
I almost always go with the classic ham and cheese variety, but there are endless possibilities. Since I started making it for my family, I have added in chopped broccoli, diced onion, and occassionally peppers, so now it’s a standalone meal, but if you’re not a veggie fan you can omit.
My daughters especially like spreading out the cheese - as they often get to sample some.
Once again, this is a recipe our whole family can work together on. My girls love rolling out the dough and adding the ingredients.
Tips
Stromboli is a hit for my son! (Don’t mind the pink sippy cup.)
I usually make the dough from scratch (here’s my recipe), but you can save some time and effort by buying frozen dough.
You can dice or slice ham leftovers or buy deli style ham. I’ll often cut up a ham and freeze it into 1 lb containers so it’s ready to go for recipes.
I don’t notice a difference in this recipe from fresh and jarred minced garlic – so I usually opt for the pre-minced jarred garlic to save a bit of time.
This recipe yields one loaf, but I ALWAYS double the recipe. Depending on our appetite I either make the second loaf and save the leftovers for a meal later in the week or wrap in aluminum foil and freeze. If I freeze it, I put the loaf in the fridge to thaw 24 hours before I’m ready to cook it, then cook the same as the first loaf.
Classic Ham and Cheese Stromboli Recipe
One loaf worth of bread dough
1/2 lb frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1/2 lb ham
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 T. minced garlic (optional)
1 sliced Jalapeno pepper or 1/2 green or red pepper (optional)
1/2 lb cheese, sliced or shredded
The ham at the bottom helps keep the Stromboli nice and cheesy.
Prepare dough as directed. Instead of placing in a bread pan, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough on a floured surface into a 20”x12’ rectangle. Spread the minced garlic on the dough evenly, leaving a 4” perimeter on the dough without garlic. Layer ham on top of the garlic. Cover ham with peppers, onions, and broccoli, followed by cheese, then topped with any remaining ham or broccoli.
Fold each end of the dough to the middle. Wrap both long sides into the middle. Place the seam down on a cookie sheet. Bake 350F for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center indicates the dough is fully cooked. After cooking slightly, slice the loaf into 1.5” thick slices with a serrated knife.
My preferences
I prefer to sandwich the cheese in the middle, otherwise it soaks into the bread and seems less cheesy.
If you prefer less bread, reduce the rising time. If the dough rises the amount for a traditional loaf, the ends often don’t have much filling. If I reduce the rise time, I can get the Stromboli on the table in 90 minutes from my start time!
Since I make the recipe from memory, I admit I frequently forget the garlic – so consider it optional!
Share your favorites!
Do you have a favorite recipe as a kid? This is a great time to dust it off and make at home. Share below what you made and what makes it a old favorite!
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