Traditional Calzone Food

TRADITIONAL CALZONE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 4 cups flour, sugar, parsley, yeast, salt, basil, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper. In a saucepan, heat water and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to greased top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the cheeses, eggs and parsley; set aside. Punch dough down. On a lightly floured surface, roll out two-thirds of dough into a 18x15-in. rectangle. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish (edges will hang over sides). Press pastry onto bottom and up sides of dish., Spread filling over crust. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of dish; place over filling. Trim edges; pinch to seal. Cut slits in top. beat egg and water; brush over top. Bake at 350° for 60-65 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into filling reads 160°. Let stand for 10 minutes; cut into squares.

THREE-CHEESE CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Make the filling: Mix the mozzarella, ricotta, basil, scallions, 1/4 cup parmesan and the breadcrumbs in a medium bowl until combined. Divide the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface into a 7-to-8-inch round.
• Spoon one-quarter of the filling onto one half of each dough round, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Lightly brush the edges of the dough with some of the beaten egg; fold the dough over the filling and crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Transfer the calzones to the prepared baking sheet.
• Brush the calzones with the remaining beaten egg and cut 2 slits in the top of each to let steam escape. Sprinkle the calzones with the remaining 2 teaspoons parmesan, then bake until golden brown and cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes. Serve with marinara sauce, the salami and giardiniera.

MUFFULETTA CALZONE

Steps:

• To prepare the dough, pour warm water in a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast and sugar onto the top of the water. Briefly let the water absorb the yeast, then stir to dissolve it. Let stand for 15 minutes until the mixture is foamy. In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt on low speed. Add the yeast mixture and oil, and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 cup of flour and beat for 1 minute, until the dough just clears the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured work surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft, but use additional flour as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rest in a warm place until tripled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Cut the dough into 8 pieces and roll each into a ball. Using a rolling pin or your hand, flatten into 6-inch circles on a lightly floured surface.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• To fill calzones, distribute the cheese and meat equally among the 8 circles of dough, placing the fillings on the lower 1/3 of each circle. Moisten the edges of each dough circle with water. Fold the top 1/2 of the dough over the bottom 1/2 to form a half moon, and seal the edges by crimping with a fork. Lightly brush the top and edges of each calzone with egg wash.
• Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Serve each calzone on top of a small mound of Jimmy's Olive Salad.
• To prepare the olive salad, combine all ingredients thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow the salad to marinate. Store in container with a tight-fitting lid.
• Yield: 8 servings
• Preheat the oven to300 degrees.
• Place the garlic in a small ovenproof container and pour in the oil. Use additional oil if needed to completely immerse all the garlic cloves. Cover the container with aluminum foil and roast 1 hour, until garlic is soft and light golden brown.
• Strain the garlic and place in a blender along with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Puree to a smooth consistency, adding a small amount of oil if necessary. Pour into a container and cover the top of the puree with a thin layer of the oil. Cover and store in the refrigerator.
• Yield: 1 cup

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.

CALZONE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the garlic, fry for 1 min until golden, then add the passata and half the basil leaves. Bring to the boil and cook until it is reduced to a thick sauce, so around 3 mins. Stir in the Parma ham and sundried tomatoes, season, then set aside to cool a little.
• Roll out the pizza dough to two 12-15cm circles, then split the mixture between them, piling it onto one side. Top with the mozzarella and remaining basil.
• Close the calzone, pulling the side without the filling over, then crimp around the edge, so it looks like a giant Cornish pasty. Transfer to a floured baking sheet and bake for 15 mins until golden and puffed up.

EASY ITALIAN PIZZA CALZONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In large skillet, brown and crumble sausage, pour off fat.
• Add 3/4 cup pasta sauce, mushrooms, green pepper and onion.
• Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, unroll crescent dough and separate into 8 rectangles. Firmly press perforations together and flatten slightly.
• In a small bowl mix egg and water, brush on dough edges.
• Stir cheese into meat mixture.
• Spoon equal amounts of meat mixture onto half of each rectangle to within 1/2 inch of edges. Fold dough over filling. Press to seal edges. Arrange on baking sheet; brush with egg mixture.
• Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• Heat remaining pasta sauce; serve with calzones.

REAL ITALIAN CALZONES

Steps:

• In a small bowl dissolve yeast in the warm (not hot!) water. Add 1 tablespoons of the oil, sugar and salt, and mix in 1 cup of the flour until smooth. Gradually stir in the rest of the flour until the 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 the other teaspoon of olive oil, flipping to coat dough in the oil. Cover and let rise from 40 minutes or until almost doubled.
• While dough is rising combine all remaining ingredients except for the egg in a large bowl, cover and refrigerate to chill.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• When the dough is ready, punch it down and separate it into two equal parts. Roll the halves individually out into thin circles on a lightly floured surface.
• Fill one half of each circle with half of the filling mixture and fold over. Seal the edges by pressing with a fork.
• Brush the top of each calzone with the egg wash and place on a greased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.
• Serve with warmed tomato sauce if desired!