Quarterbackcalzones Recipes

CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Set pizza stone in oven to get hot while oven preheats (or use a baking sheet turned upside down).
• Divide pizza dough into 8 portions. Roll a piece into a flat disk, about 1/4 inch thick. Add about ¼ cup of toppings to one side, including a generous sprinkle of cheese. Fold the other half of dough over the toppings and seal the edges together.
• Place calzones on a large piece of parchment paper.
• Use a sharp knife to make a slit on top of each calzone (for steam to escape while baking). Lightly brush tops of calzones with beaten egg, then sprinkle with a little parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning.
• Transfer calzones (on the parchment paper) to the hot pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven.
• Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve with warmed pizza sauce, for dipping.

EASY CALZONES

Steps:

• Place the frozen rolls (or frozen bread loaves) on a baking sheet to thaw. Cover with a tea towel and let thaw and rise for 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and allow to cook for a couple of minutes. Add the sausage and cook until brown, crumbling the sausage as you stir. Add the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Remove from the skillet and allow to cool on a plate.
• In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, some pepper, parsley and 2 eggs.
• When the sausage is cool, stir it into the cheese mixture and set aside.
• When the rolls are thawed and risen, roll them out on a lightly floured surface until paper thin. Spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons of the filling onto half of the dough circle. Fold half of the dough over itself, and then press the edges to seal.
• Brush the surface of each calzone with the beaten egg, and then bake until nice and golden brown, 10 to 13 minutes. Serve with warm Marinara Sauce.
• Add a tablespoon or so of olive oil into a hot pan over medium-high heat and throw in the garlic and chopped onions and give them a stir.
• Now add the wine (or chicken broth), whisking to deglaze the bottom of the skillet. Cook until the liquid reduces by half.
• Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of sugar. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Toward the end of the cooking process, chop up your fresh parsley and basil and add it to the sauce to taste, stirring to combine.

CHOCOLATE CALZONE

Steps:

• Preheat pizza stone in 450 degree F oven for at least 30 minutes. If not using a pizza stone, use a flat sided or upside-down cookie sheet.
• Place the ricotta in a bowl. Add 1 handful sugar and the vanilla and whisk well. While whisking, add in the melted chocolate, little by little.
• On a lightly floured pizza peel or board, roll pizza dough out into 2 (12-inch) rounds about 1/4-inch thick. Spoon 1 cup of chocolate filling into center of each round. Plac the remaining chopped chocolate on top. Brush the edges of the dough with beaten egg white and fold each round in 1/2. Fold edges over as you would a piecrust and press to seal completely. Brush off excess flour from dough, brush with more of the egg white and sprinkle with sugar.
• Slide chocolate calzone onto preheated pizza stone and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.