C - Calzone

 

Calzone is a folded-in-half pizza, perfect for an informal supper while watching football on TV! 

And of course Chianti would be the accompanying

wine of choice during "C" Week.

 

 

CALZONE

Dough: 2 cups flour
               1/2 tsp salt
               1 packet active dry yeast
               2 Tbl olive oil
               3/4 cup  warm water

Mix all dough ingredients in a large bowl.  When dough forms into a ball, turn out onto a clean surface dusted with flour and knead until smooth.  Knead in additional flour as needed, maybe up to 1/2 cup more.  Set dough aside to rest and rise while preparing filling.

Filling:  1 Tbl olive oil
               1/2 lb sweet Italian sausage, removed from casings
               1 bell pepper, seeded and cut into chunks
               14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
               Seasonings as desired
               8 oz. package fresh mozzarella, cut into 4 - 6 slices

Heat oil in a frying pan and brown the sausage until it's cooked thoroughly.  Add pepper chunks, lower heat and cook covered until peppers are just beginning to soften.  Remove from heat and add drained tomatoes to mixture.  Season to taste with salt and pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, dried crumbled rosemary, garlic powder, dried red pepper flakes, etc.  The filling mixture should be quite dry so it doesn't ooze out of the crust while baking.  Other filling ingredients can be substituted: think of your favorite pizza toppings, but more dry.

Preheat oven to 450*.  Oil your hands lightly.  Divide dough in half.  Using one piece of dough at a time, press it out into a freeform circle about 10" in diameter and 1 " thick.  Spoon half the sausage filling onto one side of the dough circle.  Top with half the fresh mozzarella.  Fold dough over filling to cover it and form a semicircle.  Seal edges with a fork.  Cut a couple of slits on the top to allow steam to escape.  Transfer to lightly oiled baking sheet.  Repeat with remaining ingredients to make second calzone.  Brush tops of calzones lightly with olive oil.   Bake at 450* for about 30 minutes until golden brown.  Sip your first glass of Chianti while the calzones are in the oven.  They are pretty massive, and each could easily be two servings for normal appetites.  Enjoy!

 

Click over to Alphabe to contemplate more Cs!

 

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