Italian "Meatball" Hoagie Braids

Ever see a recipe on the back of a box and just have to try it?  That is how I found this recipe.

While at Costco last Monday I was purchasing a box of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and Troubadour noticed a recipe on the back that looked intriguing and we figured we could veganize it.  I have made a few changes to the recipe besides using vegan ingredients; I omitted the egg wash and dusting of cheese on top which cuts a few calories. Here is a link to their original recipe I managed to find online. ---->  LINK.

ITALIAN 'MEATBALL' HOAGIE BRAIDS

INGREDIENTS:

2 Cans  (8 oz each) Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
16 frozen, fully cooked vegan meatballs
1 Cup Marinara Sauce
1 Cup Shredded Daiya (I used Cheddar Shreds)



DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C) and spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.

1.  Heat meatballs in microwave to thaw.  Cut each meatball in half.

2.  Unroll dough; separate into 8 rectangles.  Place rectangles on the baking sheets. Firmly press perforations to seal. 

3.  Place 4 meatball halves lengthwise down the center of each rectangle.  Top each with 2 Tbsp of marinara sauce and 2 Tbsp of cheese shreds.

('Meatball' halves on the dough)

(Then topped with marinara and cheese shreds)

4.  With scissors or a sharp knife, make cuts 1 inch apart on each long side of the filling.  Alternately cross strips over filling.  It may not look pretty but will puff up a bit in the oven.

(Not quite appetizing yet, but ready for the oven)

5.  Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with leftover heated marinara for dipping if desired.

Notes upon reflection.......

*  I found that the tomato sauce I used was a little on the thin side and I think the hoagie would have been easier to wrap if the sauce was thicker.  

*  I also think some spicy hot sauce in the hoagie would have been a good addition or some fresh ground pepper sprinkled on top before baking.

*  We each ate two for dinner and had the remaining for lunch the next day.  They would also be good with a side salad.

*  I have calculated the calorie content for this recipe using the exact ingredients and measurements above. Each hoagie contains 314 calories.  Of that 314, the crescents accounted for 200 calories.

- Au Revoir

"There is one thing more exasperating than a wife that can cook and won't, and that is a wife who can't cook and will." - Robert Frost

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