Shelly's Recipe

FESTIVE BRAIDED PIZZA

Category: Pizza

1 (10 oz) can refrigerated pizza crust
2 tbsp or more of tomato and basil or garlic and herb gourmet spreadable cheese, room temperature
40 slices pepperoni
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk
1 tsp water
5-6 mushrooms, sliced
Fresh basil, optional
Grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Unroll dough onto a cookie sheet. Roll out or press into a jelly-roll pan. Spread cheese spread lengthwise down center 1/3rd of rectangle to within 1 inch of short ends. Top cheese with pepperoni, then sliced mushrooms. Snip fresh basil over all. Sprinkle with cheeses. Cut 1 inch slices from long edges to within 1/2 inch of filling. Fold short ends of dough 1 inch over filling on both ends of dough 1 inch over filling on both ends to form a braid.

In a 1 quart bowl, beat egg yolk and water with a whisk and brush over braid with pastry brush. Top with grated parmesan cheese. Bake 11-16 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with pizza sauce.