Easy Mummy Stromboli

Lisa sent me this recipe from abountifulkitchen.com .  I have cut and pasted different versions of the recipe below.  To get the full explanation on how to make this cute Halloween dinner, I would suggest you click onto the recipe here.  

This is the easy version:  

Here’s what you’ll need for your easy mummy Stromboli: If going the quick and easy route, buy the ingredients listed below and follow the instructions on the recipe for assembly and baking.  For the easy “semi-homemade” version, you’ll need:

1. Two frozen loaves of Rhodes bread or two pizza crusts refrigerated.
2. One 12 – 15 oz can or jar of pizza sauce
3. One 12 oz browned sausage drained and/or 12-16 oz pepperoni and/or ham sliced
4. About 4 cups grated mozzarella cheese (or a blend of mozzarella, cheddar and provolone)
5. Black olives for the eyes

WEAVING OR BRAIDING THE MUMMY DOUGH

The mummy is really easy to put together. Simply roll out the dough into a rectangle and the spread the sauce down the middle, top with meats, cheese and then cut both sides into 1/2 inch strips. Then it’s just a matter of alternating the dough back and forth, folding toward the middle to make the mummy pattern. I suggest doing this on the cookie sheet you are using to bake so you don’t have to transfer the mummy after it is filled and formed.

Cut the strips after the dough is filled.  

Weave or criss cross the dough to form the mummy shape. 

This recipe can also be used to make mini mummies!

Each recipe makes about 8 single servings

This is the involved version:

Easy Mummy Stromboli is a fun way to go all-out for your Halloween parties or dinner without taking all day to create festive food! This recipe can be made using prepared ingredients or homemade dough and sauce. If using pre made dough, this recipe takes a little over an hour from start to finish baking!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

rising time, cool time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Servings 16

Author Si Foster

Ingredients

Dough

• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4 cups flour I use 2 cups all purpose plus 2 cup bread flour
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oilor olive oil
• 1/2 cup milk warmed
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 egg beaten if halving the recipe, use one egg

Filling

• 1 16 oz pepperoni, sliced
• 1 12-15 oz jar pizza sauce Or homemade sauce below
• 4-6 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Home made sauce option

• 1 14-15 oz jar or can tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons dry Italian seasoning
• 1 clove minced garlic
• pinch of sugar
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Dough:

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix yeast and 1/4 cup warm water. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar.

2. Set aside until yeast begins to bubble.

3. Add 4 cups flour, oil, warm milk, water, sugar, salt and egg to the bowl.

4. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated. I use the paddle attachment on my Kitchen Aid for this step.

5. When all ingredients are mixed and the flour is no longer visible, switch to the dough hook and turn on low for 2 minutes.

6. Scrape down sides of bowl and spray sides of bowl lightly with cooking oil.

7. Cover the bowl and place in a warm place for about 1 hour, or the dough may be placed in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight in a Ziplock bag (see recipe notes).

   While dough is rising, make sauce (below) if using homemade. 

8. Flour a clean surface and remove the dough from the bowl onto the floured surface.

9. Split the dough in half. Roll out each piece into approximately a 14x8 inch rectangle. 

10. Spread about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the pizza sauce down the middle of the rolled out dough. See recipe notes for tips. 

11. Lay the half of the meat on top of the pizza sauce. 

12. Sprinkle half of the cheese on top of the meat. 

13. Using a pizza cutter or knife, starting at the top of the dough and cut 1/2 inch strips along each side. See photos on post. Starting at top again, fold the strips over alternately, ending at bottom. PInch the ends together at top and bottom, tuck under to avoid the dough opening during baking. 

14. Let sit for 30 minutes. Preheat oven 15 minutes before baking. Set rack on bottom third of oven. Preheat to 375 degrees. If shiny dough is desired, Brush the dough with a beaten egg.

15. Just before baking, place a cut olive on mummy for eyes. 

16. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden. The mummy shoudl be golden on bottom and top. Remove from oven, let sit for 10 minutes before cutting. 

Sauce:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes on medium heat. Can be made up to a week before using. Freeze any leftovers. 

Recipe Notes

• This recipe makes TWO Mummy Stromboli's that feed about 6-8 adults if serving with a side such as salad. Each mummy yields approximately eight  1- 1 1/2 inch pieces. This recipe is easily halved. The recipe can also be made into 8 mini-mummies! 
• I have used both all purpose and all bread flour (4 cups) in this recipe with great success. Depending on the climate (dry or humid) the amount of water and flour will vary. In Utah, where it is very dry and high altitude, I use 2 cups bread and 2 cups all-purpose flour and the amount of liquid stated in the recipe. In Spain, I use 4 cups of bread flour and about 3/4 cup liquid, and 1/2 cup of sunflower oil. If when mixing the dough it seems too wet, add flour, a tablespoon at a time until the dough is smooth and elastic looking. The dough should not look wet or be dry and floury. If the dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time. 
• If you are making the dough ahead, it can be placed in a gallon size Ziplock bag and refrigerated overnight. Occasionally when I have refrigerated this dough recipe overnight, it will raise and break the seal of the bag. If you are concerned about this, split the dough into two pieces and refrigerate in tow gallon bags. Remove the dough from fridge and let sit on counter for an hour before rolling out.
• When spreading the sauce on the dough, try to keep the sauce in the middle of the mummy. This will avoid issues with the sauce seeping out of the mummy. Also, it is best to not overstuff the dough. It makes weaving the mummy pattern a little more difficult if the dough is stuffed too full.

Halloween Pretzles

Another fun Halloween treat idea from Family Fun Magazine.  

Goofy Green Monsters!

You won't believe how easy it is to make these goofy green monsters!
1. Start with purchased vanilla pudding cups or homemade pudding divided into small dishes.
2. Use melted chocolate and a small paintbrush to paint monster faces on the inside of clear plastic cups.
3. Refrigerate until chocolate is hardened.
4. Add green food coloring to vanilla-flavor pudding.
5. Pour into prepared cups, top with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, and refrigerate at least one hour.

I found this recipe on my Facebook wall. It looks like it comes from Parents magazine.   Someone in the FB comments said this:  "You could also use a permanent maker on outside of cup to draw the faces. I know it's not as crafty, but would work."  Another idea for a breakfast treat would be to use vanilla yogurt, add green food coloring, and put granola on top.

Halloween snacks

Cut bananas in half.  Press in mini chocolate chips for eyes and a regular chocolate chip for the mouth.

Peel tangerines.  Add sliced celery for the stems.

Fun!  My friend had this posted on her Facebook page.

Cheese-Finger Food

Ingredients

• Mozzarella string cheese
• Green bell pepper
• Cream cheese

Instructions

1. Wearing plastic gloves or sandwich bags over your hands to keep the cheese as smudge-free as possible, use a paring knife (parents only) to cut each string in half and then carve a shallow area for a fingernail just below the rounded end of each half.

2. Mark the joint right below the nail as well as the knuckle joint by carving out tiny horizontal wedges of cheese, as pictured.

3. For the fingernails, slice a green bell pepper into 3/8-inch-wide strips. Set the strips skin side down on your work surface and trim the pulp so that it's about half as thick. Then cut the strips into ragged-topped nail shapes and stick them in place at the ends of the fingers with dabs of cream cheese.

I got this off the familyfun.com website. I like it because it is a fun, healthy halloween treat that you can serve for a holiday that is filled with too many sweet treats.

Click here to see the source for the recipe from familyfun.com. Be sure to click onto the comment section to get alternative ideas to using the green peppers (like using olive halves)

Halloween Cupcakes

If you have some time on your hand, and want to make some cool Halloween cupcakes check out how to make them here . This web site has some pretty amazing ideas. I have a link to www.makeit-loveit.com on my sidebar to the right.

Demon Eyes Deviled Eggs

Hard-boil 12 eggs. Remove shells, rinse and dry. Slice in half lengthwise. 

Remove yolks and place in medium bowl. Use a fork to mash yolks well. Add mustard and Miracle Whip in a 2-1 ratio to create a paste. Add pickle juice if mixture is too dry.  Add a little green food coloring.  

Fill egg white halves with yolk mixture, rounding and smoothing top of each.  Use black olive slices to create the eyeball effect.  (Optional: use pimiento-stuffed olives...the pimientos look like the pupils). Use a toothpick dipped into red food coloring to draw tiny wiggly red lines on whites, to simulate capillaries.

Yay for the internet!  I made these for a work Halloween potluck.

Frightening Witch's Finger Cookies

My neighbor dropped this plate off on my front porch on my birthday. For the spider, she took a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, added chocolate sprinkles, m&m eyes, and black licorice legs. She couldn't find little rope licorice, she took a regular piece of licorice and cut it half and then took the half piece and cut that into four skinny pieces lengthwise. I found this recipe for fingers cookies on kraft.com

1-1/4 cups PLANTERS Sliced Almonds, divided

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

1/4 tsp. salt

1-1/2 cups flour

HEAT oven to 325ºF.

RESERVE 60 nuts for later use; process remaining nuts in food processor until finely ground. Beat cream cheese, butter, sugar, extract and salt in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in ground nuts. (Dough will be stiff.)

ROLL dough into 60 (3-inch) "fingers," using 1 Tbsp. dough for each. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray. Press 1 of the reserved nuts into dough in 1 end of each finger for the fingernail. Use sharp knife to make 3 crosswise slits in top of each finger for the knuckles.

BAKE 15 to 20 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 3 min. on baking sheet; carefully transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.

1 small to medium pumpkin
1 onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1½ to 2 lbs. ground beef
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 (4oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1½ cups cooked rice
1 (8oz) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

Cut off the top of pumpkin and thoroughly clean out seeds and pulp. Paint an appropriate face on the front of the pumpkin with a permanent marking pen or acrylic paint. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, sauté onions in oil until tender. Add meat and brown. Drain drippings from skillet. Add soy sauce, brown sugar mushroom and soup. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooked rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into the cleaned pumpkin shell. Replace pumpkin top and place entire pumpkin, with filling on a baking sheet. Bake 1 hour or until inside meat of the pumpkin is tender. Put pumpkin on a plate. Remove pumpkin lid and serve meat. For your vegetable, scoop out cooked pumpkin and serve. Serves 6.

I love this recipe. It is so fun to make and eat. We usually have it once a year around the Halloween season.

Rachel used Mel's Kitchen Cafe's recipe this year (2020).  Mel's recipe is made with chicken instead of beef.   

DINNER IN A PUMPKIN

YIELD:  6-8 SERVINGS

 

PREP TIME:  25 MINUTES

 

COOK TIME:  1 HOUR 30 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME:  1 HOUR 55 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

•  1 medium pumpkin (see note)

SAUCE:

•  1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
•  1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning (or sub a pinch each of marjoram, sage and thyme)
•  1/2 teaspoon onion powder
•  1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
•  1/8 teaspoon black pepper
•  1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste if needed
•  1/8 teaspoon dried parsley
•  1/8 teaspoon paprika
•  1 cup milk
•  1/2 cup all-purpose flour
•  4 ounces light or regular cream cheese, cubed

CASSEROLE:

•  1/2 tablespoon oil (coconut, vegetable or olive oil)
•  1/2 cup finely chopped yellow or white onion
•  2 cloves garlic, finely minced or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
•  1 cup finely diced carrots
•  1 cup diced broccoli florets
•  1 cup frozen corn kernels
•  2 cups cooked rice or quinoa
•  3-4 cups cooked chicken (see note)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cut the top off the pumpkin and set aside - try for about a 6-7-inch opening. Clean out the seeds and insides of the pumpkin until the inner walls of the pumpkin are smooth.
3. For the sauce, in a medium saucepan over medium heat bring the chicken broth and all the seasonings to a simmer. Whisk the milk and flour together until very smooth. Gradually pour it into the simmering broth while whisking quickly and continue cooking until the mixture is bubbly and thick. Off the heat, stir in the cubes of cream cheese and let them melt while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
4. In a large, 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the 1/2 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic (or garlic powder), carrots, broccoli and corn. Cook the mixture, stirring often, until the onion is translucent and the vegetables are slightly tender, 5-8 minutes.
5. In a large bowl, combine the rice or quinoa, chicken, and cooked vegetables. Stir the sauce to combine the soft cream cheese and pour over the other ingredients, mixing to combine. Add additional salt and pepper to taste (don't be shy - it may need another 1/2 teaspoon of salt or so).
6. Lightly salt and pepper the inside of the pumpkin (the sides and bottom) and spoon the casserole into the pumpkin.
7. Place the top back on the pumpkin and place a large rimmed baking sheet covered in foil in the oven. Most likely it will need to be on a rack placed low in the oven to fit the pumpkin. Carefully place the pumpkin on the baking sheet and bake for 90 minutes.
8. Remove the baking sheet and pumpkin from the oven and let the pumpkin rest for 10 minutes before serving. Scoop the casserole out of the pumpkin - don't forget to scrape the soft, delicious sides of the pumpkin to get a bit of the sweet pumpkin meat in with the casserole (that's what makes it so tasty!).
9. Be careful moving the pumpkin after it has baked. It probably should stay on the baking sheet - the sides will be ultra soft and I've learned the hard way that if the pumpkin is being moved from the baking sheet to a platter, it may split in half!

NOTES

Pumpkin: ok, let's talk pumpkins for this recipe. It will vary a little based on the fact that some pumpkins have more guts than others (gross but true); generally speaking, you want to look for a pumpkin that is about 9-10 pounds with dimensions about the equivalent of 10-inches high and about 26 1/2 inches in circumference at the thickest part. It's ok if it's slightly larger and the casserole ingredients don't fill it all the way up. Just make sure with the stem back on that it can fit in your oven.

Chicken: if you have access to good-quality rotisserie chickens (I'm looking at you, Costco), this is a perfect recipe to use the meat in. 

Make Ahead: several of the components can be made ahead of time - the cooked chicken, cooked rice or quinoa (cook it up earlier in the week and keep it in the refrigerator) and even the sauce (it can be prepared days in advance, too, and used straight from the fridge).

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