Calzones

When Friday rolls around Calzones (or pizza) are sure to be found on our dinner table. Calzones are a family favorite here. I make our calzones a little differently – there is no pizza sauce (marinara) inside of the calzone. Instead, the only fillings that go into my calzones are cheese and meat. The marinara is served on the side for dipping. Hopefully this becomes one of your favorites too!

Dough Ingredients:

1.) 1 cup WARM water

2.) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3.) 1/2 teaspoon sugar

4.) 2 1/4 teaspoons (or 1 package) yeast

5.) 1 teaspoon sea salt

6.) 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil (to put IN the dough itself)

7.) 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil ( to coat the bowl when the dough is rising)

Fillings:

1.) 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

2.) 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

3.) Pepperoni

4.) Canadian Bacon

5.) Any other filling you want!

Marinara:

See my other recipe for a yummy marinara sauce.

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Directions for Making the Dough:

1.) Pour the 1 cup warm water into the bowl of a stand mixer.

2.) Add the 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Stir.

3.) Next, mix in the 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 package) of yeast into the water/sugar mix. Let the whole mixture sit for 5 minutes until it is frothy.

4.) After 5 minutes, add in the 1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and 2 1/2 cups of flour.

5.) Mix with the dough hook attachment for 2-3 minutes until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

6.) Pour the 3 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil into a large glass or ceramic bowl.

7.) Transfer the dough to the oiled bowl. Flip the dough over a few times to completely cover the dough in oil.

8.) Cover the bowl with a towel or Press-n-Seal (my preferred). Place the bowl in a warm place and let rise for about an hour.

9.) After the dough has risen, it is ready to make into calzones.

Filling and Baking the Calzones:

PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 350* FAHRENHEIT.

1.) To make the calzones, grab a piece of dough that is a little smaller than a baseball and place it on a spot to roll out.

2.) Roll the dough ball out until it is thin.

3.) Place about 1/8 cup of shredded cheese in the middle of the dough. Make sure to have a mix of both the cheddar and mozzarella cheese.

4.) Put the desired filling on top of the cheese.

5.) Add another 1/8 cup of mixed cheese (cheddar and mozzarella) on top of the filling choice.

6.) Fold up the extra dough over the top of the fillings. Completely enclose the fillings inside of the calzone dough.

7.) Bake in a 350* oven for 20-25 minutes until the dough is golden.

8.) Remove from the oven and enjoy!

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