"Cheese Please" Calzone

Posted by Unknown Monday, February 18, 2013
Taste Level: VGR
Cost: $20 and under
Serves: 2-4
Prep Time: 40-45 min.
Cook Time: 35-40 min.
Difficulty: 2

Cheese Please!  Remember those commercials? I do and I bet most who grew up around the same time as myself remember the cheese pushing commercials.  As a child I already had a love of cheese... did they really need to entice me further?  I think not but hey how am I to try and withstand the power cheese holds over me.  This "Cheese Please" Calzone has some of my favorite cheeses to cook with.  All tossed together with just enough garlic, green onion, tomato and parsley to compliment all the wonderful cheese.  Enjoy!

(For instructions on how to make your own sourdough calzone skin check posting dated 7/7/09.)

Ingredients:
8 oz fresh mozzarella (shredded)
2 tbsp sharp cheddar (shredded)
2 tbsp pepper jack (shredded)
1 tbsp Parmesan (grated)
1 tbsp Romano (grated)
2 vine ripe tomatoes (chopped, I used 1 red and one orange tomato from our garden)
1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley (chopped)
1 green onion (diced)
5 cloves garlic (minced)

Sauce
1/4 cup 1 tbsp Francis' White Sauce

Brushing Sauce
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp white truffle oil
1/4 tsp fresh crack pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Calzone Skin
2 tbsp Neufchatel Cream cheese
2-3 tsp jalapeno (seeded, diced)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Tossing dough
What works best for me is I strongly throw the ball of dough down on a solid flat surface covered with a piece of wax paper until it is large and flat enough for me to easily balance on top of both of my fists. Then I make an X with my arms keeping my fists close together (backhand to backhand, the dough atop of them both) and I fling the dough upwards with my fingers as I simultaneously bring my arms quickly parallel (palm to palm) about 3-4 inches apart. As the dough falls I remake my fists and catch the dough atop them again in the X position and repeat until the dough has formed a 12 inch thin crust (stretch into an oval.)

(Alternately you can lay dough on a solid flat surface covered with wax paper and squish flat with hands. Roll into a ball and slam the dough down onto your solid flat surface covered with a piece of wax paper. Using your fist mush the dough down repeatedly as if you were punching it softly but firmly (this helps get any air bubbles out of it.) Now using your finger tips press and stretch dough until you have formed a 12 inch spherical calzone skin.

Brushing Sauce
Mix together all ingredients in small bowl and sit to side until ready to use.


(Optional Crust Filling)
Mix ingredients together in a small bowl.

Calzone
In a medium mixing bowl toss all ingredients together until mixed well.

Sprinkle corn meal onto a baking sheet and lay skin on to it. Spread sauce over one half of the calzone skin about an inch from the edge. Evenly spread out ingredient mixture. Fold uncovered skin over covered half and align the edges. (If using optional crust filling evenly spread mixture over the top outer edge before folding and twisting into the crust.) Fold and twist edges together from right to left until calzone is sealed (I tuck the last twist under the calzone for appearance.) (Make a few slits in calzone for venting if wanted.)

Place calzone on a baking sheet lightly coated with corn meal and brush with brushing sauce. Arrange your oven racks to where they are on the upper and lower thirds of the oven. If you are using a baking stone as we do place it directly onto the floor of a preheated oven for 45 minutes (but you will be less likely to ruin your pizza stone if you place it on a rack at its lowest position.) Place baking sheet with calzone on the top oven rack and bake for 20 minutes, move calzone onto pizza stone and continue to cook for 15-20 minutes or until bottom is crispy and top is golden brown. Slide calzone onto a cutting board or baking sheet and slice into 4 pieces and serve hot with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce (ranch dressing, honey and olive oil with balsamic and fresh cracked pepper our our favorites.) Enjoy!

0 comments

Post a Comment

Search This Blog