Homemade Calzones

Last night I tried my hand at making Calzones.  I was inspired by the Hot Pocket Recipe over at My Kitchen Misadventures, and then I made it my own by using her dough recipe, but my own sauce and fillings.  The sauce was completely made from scratch (without a recipe and I totally rocked it!), as was the dough.

Sauce Recipe (An Angie Original!)

• 1 cup finely diced Onions
• 3 Cloves Garlic, finely diced
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 large can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 can Tomato Paste
• Handful chopped Cilantro
• 1 cup chopped Mushrooms
• Salt
• Pepper 
• Italian Seasoning

Put the oil in a big skillet and let it heat up. Throw in the Onions and Garlic in and let them sautee in the bottom a while before throwing the Cilantro in and allowing it to sautee for a bit. Pour in the Tomato Paste, Diced Tomatoes, and the Mushrooms. Allow it to heat and simmer. Add Salt, Pepper, and Italian Seasonings to taste.
 
Dough Recipe (via My Kitchen Misadventures)

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 tsp Yeast
• 2 tbsp oil (Canola or Olive)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 2 1/2-3 cups Flour

Dissolve the Yeast in the hot water, then add oil.  In another bowl mix Salt, Sugar, and 2 cups Flour together.  Pour the yeast mixture in and stir together (I used a spoon until it got firm, and then I used my hands) add more flour until it's pulls away from the sides and forms a ball.  You may need more, or you may not, just judge by the texture/looks.

Cover the dough and allow it to rise until the size doubles.  Generally this will take about 45 minutes to an hour.

Separate dough into 4 portions and roll out in to flat round cirlces, and allow to sit for 5 minutes.  Put your sauce in side one half (leaving plenty of room on the sides) and add your filling.

My fillings included: diced green and red peppers, diced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, pepperoni slices, and mozzerella cheese.  It was delish!

Fold the empty half over (it will have to stretch) and then pinch the sides together and move it to the tray.

This recipe makes about 4 large Calzones.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Pull out and serve!

I served mine with salads, but the Calzones were so big that my guests didn't finish the Calzone after eating the whole salad!  To be fair, the salads were pretty much the works...

They seemed to enjoy the meal!