Friday Pizza: Calzones!!

This is a simple and easy dish to prepare and I am looking forward to be munching on it while watching the opening ceremony of the winter Olympics!

Shopping List:

1) Pizza dough (2 tubes)

2) Ricotta cheese

3) Mozzarella cheese

4) Kielbasi Sausage (I am using a chicken sausage that has a sweet smokey taste, but whatever kind you like)

5) Onion

6) Green Pepper

7) Garlic

8) Tomato Sauce

REALLY great tip!!
Some bakeries like in Publix here offers freshly made pizza dough, available in regular or whole wheat! Ask your bakery if they offer this service!

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To begin:

Preheat oven to temperature on your pizza do, mine is 450.

Get a large pan and place a tablespoon of oil in the pan. Dice up the two garlic cloves and place in the oil. Cut up into slices about a cup and a half of sausage, let brown on each side (about 5-7 minutes).

While the sausage is browning slice up half of the onion and the whole bell pepper (if you want variety you can do half of a red and half of a green, but I am sticking with the good old green this time).

Once sausage it browned add onions and peppers. Let saute' for about 5 minutes or until tender and onions are becoming translucent.

Take pan off the heat. Get out a large mixing bowl and a baking sheet (spray this with cooking spray lightly).

Roll out your dough into large rectangles, but do not make too thin so the stuffing will tear it. I am making one large calzone per tube of pizza dough. You can make two smaller per tube if you prefer.

Drain the sausage mixture of any excess liquid (I did not have any, but you do not want a liquidy mixture!) and place contents into the large mixing bowl. Mix into this with half of a 15 oz container of ricotta cheese (I am using part skim). Stir until completely mixed.

Place half of the mixture into the middle of each rectangle of dough. I got fresh mozzarella so I am just going to slice it and put about 2 or 3 on top of each, but if you buy shredded or a block just shred right on top about 1/4 cup on each.

Fold the dough over the top and firmly fold and press the edges of the dough together. OPTIONAL but yummy if you do: brush with melted butter and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the over top. THEN put 2 or 3 slits in the top with a sharp knife.

Cook for about 15-17 minutes depending on your dough or until golden brown.

Let cool for a few minutes and have tomato sauce on hand for dipping.

Now, all we have to hope is that the opening ceremony will be as good as these calzones!