Homemade Calzones!

Making Calzones are really very easy. I make my own pizza dough, it's easy when you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer. You just dumped all the ingredients in the bowl, using the dough hook, the dough is ready within minutes. 

I like to add pepperoni, cooked meatballs, or cooked sauage to the Calzones.  I have even tried sauteed zucchini once, and they were very delicious! 

Use your imagination, making Calzones are so easy, you will be amazed how easy, and satisfying they are!  Serve them with a most delicious salad, and your meal is complete!  Enjoy!

The Dough - for 4 Calzones

1 1/4 cups warm water (warm water, NOT HOT)
2 TBS sugar
2 Tsp. Active Dry Yeast

In a bowl add the water, then the sugar and yeast...mix with a fork and let sit for 5 minutes until it gets all foamy, this is called "Proofing the Yeast".

Yeast all foamy

To the Kitchen Aid Mixing bowl add:
4 1/2 Cups Bread Flour (I use Bread Flour, but you could use Regular too)
2 TBS oil (I use olive)
1 tsp salt
Yeast Mixture already foamy

With the Dough Hook attached, mix on low. Increase speed, and mix until all the mixture forms a ball around the dough hook, you may have to scrap the sides of the bowl down with a spatula.

Dough hook with dough around it

Now look is the dough forming a ball around the dough hook like the picture above? Or does it look like a "cake batter" in the bowl? If it looks like a batter, add 1/4 cup more flour, you want all the dough mixture to be wrapped around the dough hook, that means it's done kneading. Or, there may be extra flour on the bottom of the bowl, then you need to add a little more water. Take the dough out of the bowl, and work it a little with your hands, if sticky add some more flour to your hands. Put in a well oiled large bowl, let rise for one hour.

Dough all risen and ready to spread!

These are the tricks to bread making, if you don't have a Kitchen Aid Mixer, you can use this same method, just the OLD FASHIONED way.....knead with your HANDS!!!!

When the dough is done rising, it will double in size, punch down. Divide it into 4, and let sit for about 5 minutes, will be elastic and easy to spread. On a big board with your fingers, start spreading the dough into a circle, it will spread easily.

Making the Calzones

2 cups Ricotta Cheese
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
Pepperoni, cooked meatballs, cooked sausages, sauteed Zucchini (that's what I have below)

On a floured board spread out the dough into a circle (doesn't have to be perfect) with your hands.  Add about 1/2 cup of the Ricotta on one side and top with about 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese and whatever kind of topping you wish, I used sauteed Zucchini in the picture below.

Fold the dough over.....

 Seal the sides together making sure the filling doesn't come out. Crimp the sides together and seal with a fork.

All ready for the Oven! Using a sharp knife, carefully cut air holes in the top.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes!

Now you are ready to cut into it and eat.  Serve with your favorite tomato sauce!  YUMMO!