Marissa came home from YW's raving about this recipe and wanting to have it again immediately. Since she hadn't found anything besides this in about a week that she could comfortably eat with her orthodontic expander, I was just thrilled she ate something. So I haven't tried this yet...but I look forward to doing so soon. I'm adding the story printed on the top of the recipe.
Every recipe has a story: (recipe given to Linda Hill by Loree and Eric Thorerson while Kent was in grad school at University of Illinois in Champaign...Eric brought this recipe home from his mission in Italy and it was "top secret" for a long time until Loree assured Eric that she wasn't going to open a restaurant...Loree was making quite a bit of money selling these to all of Eric's classmates at the university). This is a HUGE crowd pleaser...I usually double it.
2 cups hot tap water
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 heaping tablespoons instant yeast (my favorite is "Saf Yeast")
1/2 cup oil
1 egg
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups flour at first (plus 3-4 cups that you'll add later)
Mix all of the above ingredients, then gradually add 3-4 more. Knead for 5 minutes by hand or in a mixer. Let the mixture sit in the bowl. Cover with a clean towel and let rise about double in size (about 30 minutes). Divide dough into about 10-12 balls. Roll out and place about 5-6 pieces of pepperoni and about 1/4 cup shredded mozarella cheese. Flip left and right sides of the circle in and then start at one end. Roll the dough and toppings into a tube shape and secure edges by pinching the dough. Place seam side down onto pans sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover and let them rise another 20 minutes or so. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Fool Proof Whole Wheat Bread
Use the above recipe, but substitute whole what for the white flour and olive oil for the vegetable oil. I also add another tablespoon of yeast and at the following:
4T lecithin
1/4 cup gluten (or substitute one of the cups of what flour with white flour)
Make the dough as usual and then cover and let sit in the bowl to rise for about 20-30 minutes. Divide in half or thirds (depending on the size of the bread pan). Form into loaves and place in well-greased bread pan. Brush with a little olive oil, cover and let rise at least 30 minutes and then bake in 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes or until a darker, golden brown.
Slice and smother with honey butter and watch it disappear.
Note: Basically, the above two recipes can be altered with wheat, half wheat half white, add a little bean flour, make with oat flour, etc. Experiment to your heart's content. It is really quite fail-proof.
