Monday, October 11, 2010

You know you want it! Calzone!

The recipe silly!  Spinach, Chicken and Bacon Calzones of course!
Now I did not following the recipe exactly - I made my own dough.  ONLY because the grocery store  I was shopping was not likely to have pizza dough.  Plus, I had the yeast and it took like 5 min to whip up to let rise.  And I had split chicken breast that I was cooking for this recipe and another night's dinner (Orange Sesame Chicken).  I try to have cooked diced chicken bagged in the freezer to pull out for quick prep work.  I also had a partial bag of fresh spinach and needed to use it.
Here's the recipe!
Makes 8 calzones (2 per serving)

Spinach, Chicken, & Bacon Calzones
Prep time: 25 min plus thawing dough if using frozen
Bake time: about 20 min

Unbaked calzones freeze well up to 3 months.  Great for planning ahead!

2 lb frozen pizza or bread dough (2 1 lb rounds)
4 strips bacon
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 box (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut in 1/2 in cubes
2 cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 plum (Roma) tomatoes, finely diced
2 Tbsp oil

Oven 450 degrees.
1-Thaw dough as package directs.
2-Meanwhile, cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain well on paper towels, chop and place in a med bowl.
3-Reduce heat to low.  Add onion and cook till translucent.  Stir in spinach, salt and pepper.  Let cool. add to bowl with bacon.  Stir in cheese, chicken and tomatoes.
4-Cut each dough round in quarters, shape into 8 balls.  Place on floured surface, cover with cloth towel.
5-Roll out 1 ball of dough into a 7 in circle.  Mound 1/2 cup chicken mixture in center.  With wet fingers, moisten edge of dough, stretch and fold dough over filling to make a half moon. Pinch and roll up edges to seal.  Use kitchen scissors to snip a vent in top.
6-Place calzones on oiled large baking sheet, lightly brush tops with EVOO.
7-Bake 20 min or until crust is lightly brown and filling is bubbly.  Cool 5 min.  Enjoy!

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