Calzones...full recipe up and ready

Eureka!!! I finally found a dough recipe for calzones.  Yes it is easier to just go to a pizza shop and order them, but these are delicious, more nutritious, less expensive, and saves you the gas and tip. Although feel free to send me the tip and any monies saved...seriously HA HA!

 

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 (.25 oz) Active Dry Yeast Packet
• 2 tbsp oil (I used EVOO)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup 110-115* warm water
• a sprinkle of corn meal (don't you love that measurement)

FILLING IDEAS:

• Basic calzone
• Fat Free Ricotta
• Fat Free Shredded mozzarella
• Italian seasoning sprinkled in

Then add in addition to basic calzone filling...

• Buffalo Chicken Calzone
• cooked diced chicken, franks hot sauce, with bleu cheese yogurt dressing for dipping
• Ground buffalo/turkey/lean beef with veggies
• Veggies (broccoli, spinach, onions, peppers)
• Mexican Calzone
• Black beans, ground meat, Mexican rice, jalapenos, fat free cheddar cheese , with sour cream for dipping
• Traditional Italian
• Pepperoni, turkey sausage

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place yeast packet, sugar, and salt into warm water, stir and allow to sit for about 2-3 mins.
2. While yeast is dissolving and getting all bubbly inside, place flour and oil in mixer bowl with dough hook handle (this can be made by hand but will take a lot longer and require much strength HA HA!)
3. **for extra flavor you can add in dried basil, oregano, garlic, Parmesan into flour/dough**
4. Pour yeasty water into dough and turn on mixer to low speed and allow to knead for 10 mins.  If doing by hand just keep mixing till a ball starts then knead by hand for an additional 10 mins.
5. Separate dough in halve.
6. Roll each dough half as flat as you can.
7. Sprinkle just a bit of corn meal on the lined or sprayed baking sheet before setting dough down.
8. Fill with desired toppings, fold over and pinch seams.
9. Bake at 450* until golden brown
10. **for an extra yumm....coat with melted butter and a sprinkle of Parmesan and garlic powder before baking**

Rolling out the dough, it doesn't even have to come close to resembling a shape, it can, but I am not that persnickety

Baked yumminess...at this point I decided to melt butter on it and add Parmesan and garlic powder (I was glad I did)

They make look alien and very off kilter but these misshapen calzones were fabulous!!

This was mine, I used fat free ricotta, fat free mozzarella, turkey pepperoni and green bell peppers in mine and served it up with marinara (see below)

MARINARA RECIPE

• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• *optional- Parmesan and crushed red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add all ingredients into small pan and heat over low until well incorporated.
2. Pour into small ramekins and cover with Parmesan cheese and hot pepper (if desired)