I love pizza—enough to eat it multiple times a week or multiple days in a row—and I’m not at all tied down to the conventional idea of pizza. I’ll try weird flavor combinations (like pea pesto!), enjoy it in muffins, or spend an hour making pizza monkey bread. When I came across a recipe for these rolls in a recent Better Homes & Gardens issue, I knew this was the newest unconventional way for me to give pizza a go!

Aside from being spectacularly attractive (looking like a savory cinnamon roll!), they tasted even better than they looked. Don’t miss out on making these now—when tomatoes and basil are still in abundance and their fresh flavors can’t be beat! I think I overfilled my rolls slightly, using more tomatoes than the recipe called for, but the tomatoes threatening to pop out only gave them a rustic, albeit slightly messy, look. These rolls shine in their simplicity—no additional ingredients needed! That being said, I can’t wait to try a few other versions of these! Next up is definitely one with pesto!
Tell me, what would you stuff your rolls with?

One Year Ago: Red Onion and Kalamata Olive Tuna Salad
Two Years Ago: Chicken and Artichokes in White Wine Sauce
Three Years Ago: Quick and Easy Tuna Salad

Tomato Bacon Basil Pizza Rolls
slightly adapted from Better Homes and Gardens August 2012

Ingredients:
-1 batch fresh pizza dough
-1 large clove garlic
-approximately 1 tsp salt
-3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved and/or quartered
-1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
-1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
-1 tsp finely shredded lemon peel
-1/2 tsp finely ground black pepper
-1/3 cup crumbled, cooked bacon
-1 cup basil leaves

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425F. In a small bowl, mash together the garlic and a large pinch of salt. Toss with tomatoes, Parmesan, 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon peel, pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt.
2. Roll out pizza dough on a floured surface to a 22 x 14-inch rectangle. Sprinkle bacon and basil over the dough. Spread tomatoes over the surface, leaving about 1 to 2 inches on each border. Carefully roll dough from one long side to the other. Using a serrated knife, cut 1-1 1/2 inch pieces off (like a cinnamon roll).
3. Carefully place rolls, cut side up, on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until crusts are golden. Sprinkle with additional fresh basil before serving.

This post is linked to Eat at Home.