Calzones

We live right by an Old Chicago and they do have some pretty delicious calzones... but guess what?

You can make your own! And I BET they will be better!

I LOVE making amazing things at home that I've had at restaurants.

I know I'm going to love it because I can make it however I want.... I always know it's fresh... It's healthier...and I know exactly what's going in there and how it's made.

Try this recipe...it's actually very easy and you can change it to whatever you like!



This makes 4 calzones

Ingredients:

pizza dough, recipe here
.5 oz. Canadian bacon
2 cups fresh spinach
2 cloves garlic
1 medium onion
1 Tbsp. sriracha
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
2 cups mozzarella cheese
8 Tbsp. pizza sauce
1/4 c. cornmeal
1 egg (for egg wash)

Place a pizza stone (if using) in the oven and preheat oven to 500.

 Directions:

1. Make pizza dough according to my recipe directions. Let dough rise for 1 hour covered in a warm place. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Let rest for another 10 minutes.

2. Dice Canadian bacon into small bite sized pieces.

2.  Chop spinach.



3.  Mince the garlic and dice the onions.

4.   Shred the mozzarella cheese.

5. Combine all of the previous ingredients in a medium bowl. Add sriracha, black pepper, and the salt.  

6.  Dust a pizza peel (or a regular dinner plate) with 1 Tbsp. cornmeal.

7.  One by one, take each of the pieces of dough and flatten out into rounds. Punch the dough down and gently press down with your fingers into the desired thickness. About 1/4 inch thick. Layer each calzone with 2 Tbsp. of pizza sauce and 1/4 of the filling mixture.

8. Fold over the calzone and seal the ends with your fingers. Make sure to push down on the seal so that the filling doesn't come out while cooking.

Score the top with a sharp knife. It's OK if you get corn meal all over the calzone. It's delicious and you can barely tell it's there.

Lightly brush the calzone with the egg wash.

Carefully slide the calzone onto the pizza stone (or a baking sheet) and bake 9-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with a side of warm pizza sauce for dipping.

Look at this amazing crust on the bottom! This is what the corn meal does!!! (as well as keep it from sticking)

ENJOY!!!



Buffalo Chicken Pizza

This was way better than I thought it would be!

I do love buffalo wings. I actually love anything "buffalo" flavored. This pizza was a prefect addition to our friends night. Today our friend Alyssa came over with her two munchkins. We haven't seen them in forever! It was so nice to catch up. All of us enjoyed this yummy pizza. Even little Abie wanted some! (he's lactose intolerant so he could only have the crust). Poor little guy.

Well if you like buffalo flavors I would strongly suggest making this! It was amazing!

Oh yeah... the recipe for the pizza dough is the BEST you will find ANYWHERE! I promise you :)

I baked my pizza on a pizza stone. You can find these for about 20 dollars or more.

I slightly adapted the pizza recipe from Rachael Ray.

The pizza dough recipe comes from Bobby Flay and is amazing and does not need any alterations!

This makes about 2 small pizzas.


Dough Ingredients

3 1/2 to 4 c. bread flour
1 tsp. sugar
1 envelope instant dry yeast
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp. hot water (110 degrees F)
2 Tbsp. olive oil, plus 2 tsps.

Dough Directions

• Combine all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
• Add the water and the 2 Tbsp. of oil. Combine until it forms a ball. Knead for just a few minutes.
• Oil mixing bowl with the 2 tsps. of oil and cover with plastic wrap and a damp kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
• When ready split dough into 4 pieces. Let rest 10 minutes
• Roll each piece out into the desired thickness.
• This yields about 4 small-medium pizza doughs. (I like to wrap mine in plastic wrap and freeze for later use)

Pizza Ingredients


1 chicken breast, grilled, diced
2 tsp. grill seasoning (I used Mrs. Dash's chicken grill seasoning)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. worcestershire
2 to 3 Tbsp. hot sauce (I used Frank's)
1/2 c. tomato sauce
1 c. monterey jack cheese, shredded
1/2 c. blue cheese crumbles
3 green onions, thinly diced
Corn meal for pizza dough


Pizza Directions

• Season chicken breast with grill seasoning. Grill on medium-high heat. About 7 minutes total. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes then dice into small bite size pieces.
• In a small skillet over medium heat melt butter. Add in worcestershire, hot sauce, and tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add half of the sauce mixture to the chicken.
• Lay a thin layer of corn meal on a plate. (or a pizza paddle). Spread out pizza dough to size.
• Layer the remaining half of the sauce mixture on the pizza dough. Add the monterey jack, blue cheese, and green onions. Bake at 450 degrees for about 8-9 minutes.
• The cooking time will vary depending on if you used a pizza stone or not. If you use a regular baking sheet just cook it until the cheese is bubbly. About 15-20 minutes.