Calzones...adding FUN to dinner!

Summer 1990...

Tracy and I had been married but a few months and were invited over for dinner at the apartment of our friends Kevin and Julie Hancock.  This yummy recipe is what they served.

WOW, it seemed so gourmet and they were absolutely delicious!! 

SO happy she shared the recipe.

August 1993 
 was truly one of the favorite weeks of my life.  
We had 9 days off in a row for our summer vacation and did so many FUN things together! 
  (our last summer as a couple before we had kids)

Went to see "The Fugitive" (starring Harrison Ford), took a trip to Salt Lake City where we bought one of our favorite CD's "Meanwhile" by the group Camouflage, 

watched "Benny and Joon" with a candle light dinner,
rode our bicycles all around Rexburg (some nights until midnight)
and spent two days riding our motorcycle in the foothills.

One of the nights on our vacation, I had made up Calzones for dinner and we had plenty of extras.   

SO, the next day we took the extras and we packed a picnic in our backpack and tied it on the back of our motorcycle and spent the afternoon riding trail after trail together in the foothills.  

I LOVE riding behind Tracy on a motorcycle.

I still remember the moments in these photos like they happened yesterday! 

Calzones 

have been a family favorite at our house for over 20 years.  

I make these up two or threes times a year.   

I try to keep ingredients on hand to add some FUN to our meals to keep us from being tempted to eat out. (I always make sure I have a package of Pepperoni and a package of Canadian Bacon in my freezer as well as Mozzarella cheese so we can make these up anytime we feel the urge to.) 

Calzones and homemade pizza are always such a hit with everyone!

Jade loves these so much that he asked me to make them for his Christmas Dance dinner this past December.

Since it is such a rare occasion to buy fresh mushrooms
and I do not like the texture of canned mushrooms,
I purchase Tone's brand FREEZE dried mushrooms and that way if we do need mushrooms for one of our recipes, these quickly hydrate with water and they taste great as well as have great texture. 

I purchase these at Sam's Club. 

EASY, 

and OH so yummy Calzones 

that anyone can make!

  

Calzones

(sauce)

8 oz can tomato sauce

4 oz can mushrooms drained (I use freeze dried mushrooms...see helpful tip)

1 tsp dried basil leaves

1 tsp oregano

1 clove garlic crushed

(toppings)

1 package thinly chopped pepperoni

Thinly chopped Canadian Bacon

1 green pepper chopped

1 can olives chopped

1-2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 egg beaten   

(Pizza dough) 

1-1/2 Tbsp. yeast

1 cup warm water

1 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. salt

2-3/4 to 3-1/4 cup flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in sugar, oil and salt. 

Add 1 cup of flour. Beat. Mix in enough flour to make dough easy to handle. 

Knead until smooth and elastic.  

Let rise 30 minutes.

Divide dough into 6 equal parts.

Roll each piece of dough into 7 inch round circle.  

Spread sauce over half of each circle leaving 1 inch on sides. 

Top with whatever toppings you choose. 

Carefully fold dough over filling. Pinch edges. 

Place on greased cookie sheet and let rise 15 minutes. 

Prick tops of Calzones with a fork.   Brush tops with beaten egg.

Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown for 25 minutes.  
Cool for 10 minutes on rack before serving.

Delicious! 

Enjoy adding a little bit of FUN to dinner 

and you will see HAPPY faces on your kids and spouse!

Enjoy!!