Italian Hero Calzones Recipes

REAL ITALIAN CALZONES

Steps:

• To Make Dough: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the oil, sugar and salt; mix in 1 cup of the flour until smooth. Gradually stir in the rest of the flour, until dough is smooth and workable. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes, or until it is elastic. Lay dough in a bowl containing 1 teaspoon olive oil, then flip the dough, cover and let rise for 40 minutes, or until almost doubled.
• To Make Filling: While dough is rising, combine the ricotta cheese, Cheddar cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms and basil leaves in a large bowl. Mix well, cover bowl and refrigerate to chill.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• When dough is ready, punch it down and separate it into 2 equal parts. Roll parts out into thin circles on a lightly floured surface. Fill each circle with 1/2 of the cheese/meat filling and fold over, securing edges by folding in and pressing with a fork. Brush the top of each calzone with egg and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve hot.

ITALIAN HERO CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Lightly grease a very large baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal, set aside.
• Drain tomatoes well, reserving oil.
• In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, turkey and/or pepperoni, and olives.
• Stir in the mozzarella cheese.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each package of pizza dough to a 12 x 9 rectangle.
• Using a 3 inch round cutter, cut each rectangle into ten 3 inch circles.
• Place about 1 tablespoon of the meat/cheese mix slightly off centre on each dough circle.
• Fold dough over mixture, forming a semicircle.
• Seal the edge of each semicircle with the tines of a fork.
• Place the calzones on a prepared baking sheet.
• Brush the tops with the reserved oil from tomatoes and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and, if desired, cayenne pepper.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until calzones are golden.
• Serve warm.
• MAKE AHEAD: Prepare and bake calzones as directed.
• Remove to a wire rack and cool completely.
• Place the calzones in a freezer container or freezer bag.
• Seal, label and freeze for up to 2 months.
• To reheat, preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place the frozen calzones on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until heated through.
• If necessary, cover loosely with foil to prevent overbrowning.

GRAND OVERSTUFFED ITALIAN BREAKFAST CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F You will need one small skillet, one small saucepan, and one or two cookie sheets.
• First prepare the ingredients:.
• Scrub potato and place in microwave on high approximately 6 minutes until tender but still firm.
• Meanwhile, lightly brown Italian sausage in small skillet. Pour off any fat, then remove sausage to a bowl.
• In saucepan, scramble eggs with milk, salt & pepper. Cook gently in 1 T butter over medium heat, remove from heat while soft-set.
• Now cube the microwaved potato to 1" pieces, removing excess skin at this time. Stir into first skillet over medium-low heat with 1 tablespoon of the butter, salt, and pepper.
• For each calzone, remove two biscuits together from tube, place on cookie sheet and press into 8" round.
• Now, assemble:.
• Place 1/4 of the mozzarella onto half of each round. Top with 1/4 each of the potato, sausage, scrambled egg, and bleu cheese. Sprinkle with about 1 T each of the snipped parsley and green onion.
• Fold dough gently over filling to form 1/2 circle, press edges well with fingertips, then seal all along edges with fork tines.
• Slash top diagonally 3 times with sharp knife. Brush lightly with remaining 1 T butter, melted.
• No need to oil cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes, until golden brown on top.