PEPPERONI ROLLS

The first time I made this recipe my family fell in LOVE with it.  Now we seriously make it a couple times a month.  YUMMY!! You can't see it very well but the seasoning on the top is to die for!

They leak out a little in spots, but still taste excellent.

I have tried these with pizza sauce inside, but I didn't like it as much as with just cheese and pepperoni. They are really spicy and delicious! :)  Sometimes when I'm in a hurry, I've used ready-made dough from the store, (Some stores sell dough balls in the deli.) and it works just as good.

Dough:
1 T shortening
2 T sugar
1 T salt
1 c hot boiling water
1 c cold water
1/3 c luke warm water
1 T yeast
4-5 c flour

Filling:
2 pkg pepperoni
6 c grated cheese, combination of cheddar & mozzarella

Topping:
1 egg, whisked until frothy
McCormick's "Italian Herb Seasoning Grinder"

To make the dough, fill a Pyrex measuring cup with 1 c hot water from tap, then place in microwave & heat for 2 minutes. This will get it boiling.

In a separate cup dissolve yeast in 1/3 c warm water. Just enough to dissolve.

In mixer, mash sugar, salt & shortening together with a fork. You want it to be well incorporated.

Pour the hot water over the shortening mixture. Then pour the cold water over it. Finally, pour the yeast/water mixture in.

Add the flour 1 c at a time, while mixing.
Once you have enough flour, let it mix for about 8 min. The dough should have a nice elasticity to it.

After the dough has mixed enough, separate it into 6 equal parts and let it rest for 5 min on a sprayed cookie sheet.

Spread dough out into a rectangle. Don't go too thin or it will explode - trust me.

Lay out pepperoni all over it, add about 1 cup worth of cheese over the top. Sprinkle with parmesan if you want.

Roll up like a cinnamon roll. Be sure the dough gets wrapped around it well. Place seam side down & tuck edges under.

Cut some slits in the top of each loaf. (not too deep)
Whisk your egg until frothy, slather all over the top & sides of loaves.

Grind seasoning over the top.

Bake at 400* for 10 min, or until top starts to get golden brown - then turn the oven down to 350* cook for another 8 min.

Let loaves rest for about 5 min. before you cut into them. Enjoy!