Easy and Yummy Calzones

A Calzone has many descriptions. An Italian "stocking" or "trouser" or "drooping sack" or "hanging fold". Actually it is a basic turnover that originates from Italy. It is made of ingredients similar to pizza, with the dough folded over and shaped in a crescent shape before baking.

I am sure when our son served as a  missionary in Italy for 2 years he and companion would enjoy these wonderful treats for many a lunch, because they are sold at street venders.  Can you imagine the wonderful aromas  and just walking on by?

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We sure enjoy these pocket style sandwiches.

We love these tasty treats for dinner and I always make extra ones for additional meals later. They freeze so easy for a quick individual meal on a busy night.

These Calzones are so easy and good to make. Our family really enjoys them and each person makes their own to their own taste. We have been known to throw in crazy ingredients and some have worked better than others! The dill pickle and peanut butter not work so well but showed some teenage creativity!:)

                                   I usually make a pizza crust dough recipe and double it.

 But this time... I thawed and let rise around 15 of the Rhoades Texas or gourmet rolls out in the morning. By afternoon they had a chance to rise several times. I divided the dough into large balls.

The usual pizza ingredients are our favorites and mainly a sausage and pepperoni one with lots of veggies. One of our son's family does not like much spice and opt for a mild Canadian bacon and pineapple version. 

The version I am sharing with you is a healthier one with lower fat ingredients which are:

*  1 pkg Jimmy Deans 'Hot' sausage and browned, crumbled and  drained. The method I use to remove almost all the fat is  by squeezing the sausage rolled up in a light kitchen towel.  ( A little unorthodox but it works for me!)

*  Add 1 bottle Ragu pizza sauce, This meat mixture should be thick.

*  Sautéed sweet onions and sweet red peppers.

*  Browned mushrooms until tender

*  Fresh baby spinach leaves

*  Turkey Pepperoni

*  Low fat shredded mozzarella cheese

 You can add almost everything! I always sprinkle my own with dried Chili pepper flakes.

 I doenjoy lots of spice in my life:-)

I have started to use a lower fat turkey pepperoni for our family.

We rolled out each of the balls out in small pizza rounds and then everyone places on their own

ingredients. 

 I even made a couple to take to some friends and so called in advance for  their orders.

He did not want Pepperoni and she wanted the works! Each one makes a half a dinner plate full of goodness..

After placing the ingredients on the center of the the rolled out dough, gently fold the other half of

dough over  and roll the edges and crimp them with the tines of a fork.

I like to baste them with a light egg white wash for a shiny beautiful color after they bake.

After baking I sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and fresh chives. Hmmm... good.

After writing this post I am craving one of these tasty morsels and 'Dollars to Donuts'

will be making these again this coming week!

I do hope you will make these wonderful Calzones for dinner soon and let me know what you think!

Ciao and enjoy a beautiful weekend,

 Beth

I am linking up for Foodie Friday with Michael over at Gollums's design. She and her guests post fabulous recipes each week. Please hop on over and pay this wonderful hostess a visit. She planned  a wonderful looking picnic for this Friday!