Calzones

 We've found a new favorite....Calzones! I got this recipe off a great blog called "Market To Meal". This dough is THE BEST. Within the last week we've used it for calzones, then breadsticks--twice. (What can I say...in a land of rice, I miss good doughy bread!)

This made 4 large calzone---enough for dinner AND lunch the next day!

These were super easy to make, and really didn't take long. I mixed up the dough, and while it rested, I browned ground beef and sauteed onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms with it. (Just our choice of filling that time---there are sooooooooooooo many options!) Now that my dough and filling were both ready, I divided the dough into 4 pieces, and patted each into a large circle---maybe 1/4 inch thickish? Put a scoop of your filling on one side (I then added some cheese also), fold the dough into a semi-circle, then slash a few holes in the top. We popped these in the oven for about 10 minutes. Sorry, but I don't know what temperature they cooked at...this is my first time cooking with a gas stove, and I just turned the knob to "the middle dot"! These were crispy on the outside and ooey-gooey-melting-cheesy-puffy-doughy on the inside :-) Here's step-by-step directions:

 

Calzone Dough

Credit for this wonderful recipe goes to Sara Beth at Market to Meal

1 Tbs sugar
1/4 cup warm water
1 Tbs yeast
3/4 cup warm water
3 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil (regular works, but olive makes a nicer texture and flavor I think)

Combine first 3 ingredients in your bowl. Allow to stand for 5 minutes and let yeast grow. Add additional ingredients to bowl, adding flour 1 cup at a time. Mix well and knead about 3-5 minutes. Allow to rest and rise if you want, but this dough works fine to just go ahead and be used--one of the great things about it!

Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Pat out each piece into a round piece of dough, about 1/4 inch thick. On one half, pile toppings (save sauces for dipping rather than putting inside)--about 3/4 to 1 cup worth of toppings and cheese is about what the dough can handle. Fold dough over top, making a half circle shape. Seal edges as best you can by tucking and pinching together (I usually bring the bottom edge over the top edge and pinch down in as pretty of an edge as I can. Slash 2-3 vents in the top of the calzone. Bake at 450F until golden brown--about 10-15 minutes.

Ideas for fillings:
Pepperoni
Ham
Cooked sausage
Cooked chicken
Cheese
Ricotta
Steamed spinach
Mushrooms
Onions
Bell pepper
Olives
Other fresh or steamed veggies
Anything you put on pizza!

Sauces for dipping:
Marinara, Ranch Dressing, BBQ Sauce, etc

Our favorite thing to do with Calzones is have Calzone Dinner Parties!! I make up big batches of the dough and everyone comes and pats out their own and stuffs their own with whatever selection of toppings we have (have guests bring toppings if you have a big group!). Have people mark the tops in unique ways when they do their "vents." Then we have different dipping sauces once everyone's calzones are ready. These also make great appetizers if you make about 12 of them instead of 4 and stuff with just a small amount of cheese and meat.

Enjoy! :-) 

The Starting Point

My first blog post….whew, a little intimidating! How about we start with a little background info…

S and I are from Tennessee, got married in 2010, and desired to follow the Father’s calling to share His Good News with all people. We moved to Southeast Asia on April 15, 2012, and will be doing language school until October. Once we finish up language study, we’ll move to our “home” for the next year and a half, where we’ll work with an Eco-Tourism company doing scuba diving and hiking, etc. Pretty awesome, huh? :-) 

As we work, our pr@yer is that we demonstrate this verse:

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)

And as we build relationships we want to “overflow” onto those around us: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Lk 6:45) and “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the H.S.” (Rom 15:13). Just as all believers are called to do, even as we go about our work and daily tasks, we will “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15).

So, that’s our purpose. We’re loving the adventure of living overseas—language learning (AH!), cooking (it usually goes something like this when I read a recipe: “hmmm, can’t buy that here, but I can substitute this…a can of that is WAY too expensive, I’ll have to make that ingredient from scratch…and who knows what temp my oven is ever at!?!?”), driving (we S learned how to drive a stick shift!), and learning what it means to really depend on the Father as “all our fountains are in Him” (Ps 87:7---I also love: “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light” Ps 36:9; “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death” Prov 13:14).

Check back soon for recipes I’ve tried out (or want to try…my Pintrest board is WAY too full of “recipes to try”…and they all seem to be sweets!), or adventures as they pop up, or things that the Father is working in my heart. Thanks for your pr@yers and encouraging words as you share this journey with us!