Braided Stuffed Pizza Bread

Every parent knows the Halloween dinner dilemma: We want to fortify our little trick-or-treaters with something substantial and at least moderately nourishing before they start knocking on doors, and they just want to put on their costumes and start collecting candy.

This recipe might be an ideal compromise. If your kids don’t like the ingredients, change the filling to taste. You could even slip in a few vegetables. Best of all, it can be on the table in 35 minutes.

Leftovers can be refrigerated — or nibbled by the parent who stays home to hand out candy.

The recipe and photo are from the “Pizza in Disguise” chapter of a new book, “Pillsbury Pizza Night” (Wiley, $14.95).

The other chapters offer recipes for appetizers and snacks, family meals, get-togethers and desserts.

BRAIDED STUFFED PIZZA BREAD

Yield: 12 servings

1 (13.8-ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust (such as Pillsbury classic)

2 tablespoons Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs

3 ounces thinly sliced Canadian bacon

10 slices pepperoni or hot and spicy pepperoni (from a 3.5-ounce package)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)

2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon water

1 to 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Pizza sauce, optional

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Unroll dough; place on cookie sheet. Starting at center, press out dough to form a 14-by-11-inch rectangle.

2. Spread garlic-herb cheese lengthwise down the center third of rectangle to within 1/2 inch of the short ends of dough. Top cheese with Canadian bacon, pepperoni, mozzarella and Parmesan.

3. With scissors or sharp knife, make cuts 1 inch apart on long sides of dough to within 1/2 inch of filling. Alternately cross strips over filling. Fold ends under to seal.

4. In small bowl, mix egg yolk and water until blended. Brush over dough; sprinkle with poppy seeds.

5. Bake 11 to 16 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into crosswise slices. If desired, serve with pizza sauce.

Per serving: 160 calories; 7g fat; 3g sat. fat; no trans fat; 35mg cholesterol; 500mg sodium; 16g carbs; no fiber.