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Spinach roll recipe

1 loaf bread dough, thawed & risen [for speed thawing, see note at end*]
4 oz. cream cheese
1 egg
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
[optional 1 c. fully cooked chopped ham, sausage, or chicken breast]
1/2 c. chopped onion, raw
2 c. frozen chopped spinach

[Note, if possible, buy frozen spinach by the bag rather than by the brick -- Wal-Mart SuperCenter carries it this way now, the brand is PictSweet, and it's much easier to handle than the type frozen in the box.]

Spray a board or pastry mat with nonstick cooking spray. Pat dough into a big rectangle. Mark a four-inch-wide space down the center. Then with paring knife cut a fringe 1 inch wide going out each side. See diagram. Optional, sprinkle a little grated mozzarella down the center of the dough before adding spinach filling.

fringe
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
______________________
___spinach filling here___
\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \
fringe

Mix cream cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, [meat,] onion, and spinach and spread down center of dough. Begin braid by folding first strip of fringe over filling, then first one on opposite side over; continue to other end, pinching a little as you go. Finish by pulling last strips in and tucking in or tucking under.

Line baking sheet with foil, use nonstick spray on the foil. Lift roll with both hands and place on baking sheet.

Brush with melted butter + sprinkle with parm. cheese. Bake at 350 degrees 35 - 45 minutes till golden brown.

+* +* +*
* Speed thawing: Place frozen bread dough on cookie sheet lined w/ foil and coated with nonstick spray. Do not cover. Preheat oven to 175 degrees. THEN TURN OFF OVEN. Boil a quart of water in a saucepan. Place it on a rack in the oven. Place bread dough on a different rack in the oven. Let dough rise for about two hours. Proceed to instructions for spinach roll.

Created 01/25/2004