Calzone

I had plans to make something else for dinner tonight but we were missing a few key ingredients and I didn't have time to go to the store today (Crazy Thursdays at our house), so I decided to make Calzone instead.  They're easy, I had everything on hand, and I knew I could use the leftover dough to make cinnamon rolls for dessert.  So other than my arteries, nobody was complaining!

You can use your favorite pizza dough recipe, or if you're in a hurry you can use this recipe:

Quick Bread Dough

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups warm water
2 T yeast
2 T sugar
1 T salt
5-6 cups flour

Preheat oven to 425F.  Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the water.  Set aside for 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, combine 5 cups flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Add the yeast mixture and mix until a dough forms.  Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes, incorporating as much of the remaining cup of flour as necessary.  Form into a ball and cover;  let rest for 15 minutes.  Punch dough down, then form into desired shape.  Let rest additional 10 minutes, then bake for 13-15 minutes.

Calzones

Ingredients
Pizza or bread dough
Pizza or pasta sauce
Mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated
Favorite pizza toppings, such as (pre-cooked) meat, peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, etc.

Using a ball of dough that is approximately 3 inches in diameter, roll into a 1/4"-thick circle.  Or, if you are making one large calzone, use a 6-inch ball of dough and roll into a large 1/4"-thick circle.  Spread pizza sauce on half of the circle, leaving a 1/2" border around edge.  Then place desired pizza toppings, followed by mozzarella cheese.  Pull the empty dough over the top of the filled dough, essentially 'folding' the circle of dough in half, to form a half-circle.  Seal the edges of the half-circle with fingers or by pressing the flat tines of a fork against the edges.  Carefully remove the calzone and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet.  Let rest 10 minutes.

Bake calzones for approximately 13 minutes at 425F, or until lightly browned on top.  Let cool 5 minutes before serving, as cheese and other filling will be extremely hot!

If you use my dough recipe, you can make approximately 12 small calzones or 4 large ones.  Or you can use half the dough, and make 15 cinnamon rolls with the rest!