Pizza Rolls

I needed an appetizer to take to take to a get together, and since I had all the ingredients to make these pizza rolls, I decided they would be best.  I had never made them before, and only had seen pictures, so I was guessing on how to actually make these tasty rolls. 

Pizza Rolls
Ingredients
1 recipe pizza dough
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
pizza toppings of choice
garlic butter
Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Take a two inch ball of dough and flatten it out to about 4 inches in diameter.  Make sure all the dough is pretty even.  A then area of dough will result in an exploded roll when it is cooked.
2. Cover the middle of the roll with sauce, leaving an inch all the way around.
3. Pile the cheese and toppings onto the sauce, but make sure the total amount of toppings is no more than a Tablespoon or two.
4. Bring the edges together over the toppings and pinch them together.   You may need to twist the dough to get it to seal.
5. Place the roll seam side down on a baking sheet.
6. Bake at 400 degrees until dough is done.
7. Brush the tops with garlic butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  You can add some more mozzarella as well. 

Notes
One recipe of pizza rolls makes 15 rolls.

For the pizza dough recipe, click HERE.

For the garlic butter recipe, click HERE.

For the tomato sauce recipe, click HERE.

You can also fill these rolls with variations, like ham and cheese, Philly cheese steak, and just about any hot sandwich type idea.

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How much does it cost?

1 recipe pizza dough = $.94
1 cup tomato sauce = $.83
1 cup mozzarella cheese = $1.00
garlic butter = $.55

One recipe costs $3.32.  Keep in mind the cost of pizza toppings.  It will increase the price depending on the toppings you use.  The use of the Parmesan will increase the cost some as well, but the amount you will use is so small, unless you really like Parmesan, that the cost would only amount to a few pennies.  You will also not need a whole recipe of garlic butter.

Pizza Hot Pockets

This recipe can be used with a variety of fillings to make your very own homemade hot pockets.

Hot Pockets
Ingredients
1 recipe pizza dough
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
favorite pizza toppings
garlic butter

Directions

1. Divide dough into six even pieces.
2. Stretch dough into a 5-6 inch circles about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Spread a thin layer of sauce on each circle, leaving 1/2 inch all away around the edge.  
4. Sprinkle cheese and toppings on top of the sauce.
5. Fold like a burrito and seal all the sides by pinching the dough together.
6. Place on baking sheet seam side down and brush with garlic butter.
7. Let dough rise 30 minutes to one hour.  
8. Bake at 450 degrees for10 minutes or until the tops become golden brown.
9. Let cool 5 minutes before moving.

Notes
Make sure any meat toppings are fully cooked before you wrap them in the dough.  They will not be in the oven long enough to cook thoroughly if they are left raw.

For the pizza dough recipe, click HERE.

For the garlic butter recipe, click HERE.

For the tomato sauce recipe, click HERE.

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Is homemade worth it?

1 recipe pizza dough = $.94
1 cup tomato sauce = $.83
1 cup mozzarella cheese = $1.00
garlic butter = $.55

One recipe costs $3.32.  Keep in mind the cost of pizza toppings.  It will increase the price depending on the toppings you use.  You will also not need a whole recipe of garlic butter.

One hot pocket costs $.55 plus what ever toppings you put inside.  

A box of 2 hot pockets in the store cost $2.99 so one hot pocket costs $1.50.

Hot Pocket Variation Ideas

(pictures to come as I make them!)

Ham and Cheese - Place a slice of cheese and top it with 3-4 thin slices of ham.  Wrap like a burrito and bake as directed above.  Use plain melted butter instead of garlic butter
.
Philly Cheese Steak - Cook ground beef (you can also use thin steak strips, but using the ground beef keeps it tender), onion, peppers and mushrooms if desired.  Place a slice of Swiss cheese on the dough and top with 2-3 tablespoons of the ground beef mixture.  Wrap like a burrito and bake as directed.

Have any variation ideas?  Let me know and I will add them here!

Cinnamon-Sugar Dessert Pizza

I was playing around with some pizza dough I had on hand and was really craving something with cinnamon and sugar.  I thought that I know how to make cinnamon rolls,  so making a dessert pizza would have the same concept, just flat instead of rolled up.  It turned out wonderful!

Cinnamon-Sugar Dessert Pizza
Ingredients
1/2 recipe pizza dough
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 recipe glaze

Directions

1. Stretch dough out into a 12 inch circle.
2. Coat the top of the dough with the butter.
3. Sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar all over the top of the pizza.  If you like it sweeter, you can add more brown sugar.
4. Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven until crust just turns golden brown, about 10 minutes.  
5. Top with glaze right out of the oven.  
6. Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes
Remember, if you are making dessert pizza using the pizza dough recipe, make sure to add and extra Tablespoon of honey to the batter so that it is a little sweeter.

Glaze recipe HERE

Pizza Dough recipe HERE

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How much does this cost?

1/2 recipe pizza dough = $.47
2 Tablespoons butter, melted = $.13
1 Tablespoon cinnamon = $.07
1/2 cup brown sugar = $.22
1 recipe glaze = $1.03

So, one cinnamon sugar dessert pizza costs $1.92.

Much cheaper than buying it at a pizza restaurant... And just as tasty too!

Pizza Dough

I found this recipe on the blog Lauren's Latest, and with a slight modification, I have the recipe below.  This is by far the best pizza dough recipe I have tried.  It is versatile and can be used for a variety of recipes.

Pizza Dough
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 Tablespoon honey
2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons canola oil
3 cups all purpose flour

Directions

1. Combine water, yeast and honey in a mixing bowl.  Let sit for 10 minutes or until yeast is frothy.
2. Add 1 cup of flour, salt and oil to the mixture and stir until smooth.
3. Add the rest of the flour slowly, stirring well after each addition.  You may not need all the flour.  
4. Once the dough can be touched without sticking to your hands, then begin kneading.  If using a stand mixer, knead or 6 minutes.  If by hand, knead for 10.
5. Oil bowl and top of dough.
6. Let rise until double, 1-2 hours.
7. Once the dough has risen, it is ready to use.  Just shape and add toppings and bake at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Notes
This dough can be used for pizza, pizza rolls, bread sticks and cheese sticks.  If making a dessert pizza, just add 1 more Tablespoon of honey to the dough to make it slightly sweeter.

This recipe makes enough for two 12 inch pizzas.

I usually make a whole meal when I cook this.  I use half the dough to make a 12 inch pizza.  I use 1/4 of the dough to make cheese sticks and the other 1/4 to make a cinnamon-sugar dessert pizza.  This way, all the dough is used and there is no waste.
 
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Is homemade worth it?

1 pkg active dry yeast = $.38
1 Tablespoon honey = $.20
2 teaspoon salt = $.01
2 Tablespoons canola oil = $.05
3 cups all purpose flour = $.30

So this recipe cost $.94.

At the store, you would pay at least $3.50 for a premade pizza crust. or $2.88 for a refrigerated dough.  Either way, you save good bit of money by making it yourself.  Keep in mind this recipe makes 2 pizza crusts and most premade (non-refrigerated crusts) have 2 per package as well.

If you made pizza once a month, you would save upwards to $2.56 per crust and in one year, you would save $30.72. 

Summery
Store bought Pizza Crust = $3.00
Homemade Pizza Crust = $.94

Recipes that use pizza dough

Cinnamon-Sugar Dessert Pizza

Homemade Pizza

Pizza Rolls

Garlic Cheese Sticks

                                                  

                                                        

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls

Bread Sticks

Hot Pockets