Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Cowboy Calzone

Since it has been a while since my last posting, I feel obligated to explain, at least a little. It all started early January, when we got sick, all of us. Started with my son, then me, then my husband. It just lingered on forever, or so it seemed. Then the ice and snow decided to come to Texas, yes its true, we had ice and snow and temperatures in the single digits. Now I know that’s no big deal for some of you, but for us in the South, it’s a big deal, especially with the rolling black outs and all. Now if that wasn’t enough, next my computer decided to take a dive and now, after purchasing two new computers and having hours of technical help at my house, I am up and running and ready to start sharing my love for cooking and eating with all of you again. Oh and did I mention the family emergency intermingled into all of this, where my husband had to fly across country to deal with family issues. Enough explaining and I know this is boring you all, so lets get down to some serious business, cooking and Cowboy Calzones.

This recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman Cookbook and I have to say it is definitely a keeper in my book. With the combination of meats, cheeses and the crust, oh the crust, this recipe is just wonderful. It is hearty, tasty and you can add as many extras as your heart desires. For me that means jalapeños of course. The extra spice is a bonus in my book, however, you can add just about anything that you and yours like. Make it simple or make it as elaborate as you desire, the final product is still, Simply Delicious.



Dough:

1 tsp. or 1/2 packet of active dry yeast

4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

Pour 1 and 1/2 cups warm water in a bowl and sprinkle in yeast.

Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. With an electric mixer on low speed, drizzle in olive oil until just incorporated.

In a separate bowl, gently stir the yeast/water mixture. Drizzle it into the flour/oil mixture; mix until the dough forms a ball. (You can also mix by hand until the dough comes together.)

Drizzle a little olive oil into a clean bowl. Toss the ball of dough in the bowl and turn over to coat in oil. Cover the bowl with a moist kitchen towel and set in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Filling:

1/2 pound hot breakfast sausage

1 pound ground turkey or beef

1/2 of a onion, diced

1/2 to 1 whole jalapeño, seeded and chopped

8 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 egg, beaten

Salt and Pepper

Milk for brushing the tops of calzones


Preheat oven to 450°F. In a large skillet combine the ground turkey or beef, sausage and onion. Brown over medium heat. Drain excess grease. Add the Rotel. Stir to combine, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In a bowl, combine the 3 cheeses, jalapeño and egg. Add a dash of salt and pepper.

Add the cooled meat mixture to the cheese mixture and stir gently to combine.

Divide the pizza dough into 10 equal-size balls. With a rolling pin on a floured surface, roll each ball into a 6-inch circle. Please know that I was able to make 10 out of this recipe. Others have only made 6.

Use a ¼ measuring cup of the meat/cheese mixture, place in the middle of each circle. Fold half of the circle over the other half, gently pressing to slightly spread and flatten the filling inside. Press and fold over the edge or use a fork along the edge to seal closed, and then transfer the calzone to a baking sheet with parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Brush the calzones with milk. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from: The Pioneer Woman

35 comments:

  1. I am glad you are well and back now. I hope the issues are resolved. You've certainly been missed.
    The calzone looks wonderful! Like you, I'd definitely add the jalapenos as well. :)
    Take care and have a great one.

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  2. The calzone sounds great. A lot of flavors going on!

    Those rolling blackouts were not fun at all! Every time I started to do something using electricity it went out. LOL

    Glad everyone is back to normal and you can finally get back to blogging!

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  3. Welcome back! The calzone sounds delicious! My guys would definitely love it. :)

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  4. Hello delish! Love this, my kid and hubby would love it for dinner. Welcome back!

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  5. So glad to see you are back and look forward to all the delicious post coming from your kitchen. These look so hearty and perfect for all that crazy weather you have been having. Hope your day is going good.

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  6. We struggled with the bad weather here in New Braunfels too. We just aren't equiped for the ice. I love your dish, great comfort food.

    Plan B

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  7. it sounds like you've been through a lot. it's good to have you back! the blog looks great!

    these look so dang good, i just love calzones.

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  8. Oh poor Diana, hope everyone is fine now! I love calzones and my kids also enjoying it very much. Yours sounded divine. Thanks for sharing & hope you're having a great day and take care.
    Blessings, Kristy

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  9. ah! so glad you are back! this looks amazing... so does your background and everything- did you design it?

    i understand what you mean about the ice... dallas was basically shut down! it was absurd!

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  10. Glad you're back up and running and feeling better! We've been on a homemade pizza making kick, but I'll have to switch it up and try your calzone - my husband will love the cowboy filling!

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  11. Those must be terrific! I really like the stuffing. Yummy!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  12. I love everything about this calzone... it looks delicious.

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  13. Welcome back, I hope your family is feeling well, yes the temperatures were pretty low, we were wout power for almost a day..sometime life just gets really busy, but I am glad your up and running again, we missed you..what a perfect way to celebrate your return..a yummy meal, perfect for the entire family.

    sweetlife

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  14. So pleased to see your return. You have been missed. The calzone is something I have never made. You have inspired me.

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  15. Ok, it is way too close to dinnertime for me to be reading this. It looks so delicious! Yum!

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  16. Hope you and your family are well again. This recipe looks fantastic - meat, cheese and crust ensures two thumbs up from me :)

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  17. I'm sorry you had such a difficult month. This looks like just the comfort food you need!

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  18. The calzone sounds wonderful. I hope you are all better and that Texas is again warming up. We missed you. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  19. These look wonderful. I must try this recipe soon too.

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  20. I'm glad your back! The calzones look wonderful! I like the name of them.

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  21. I know my family would love this! This certainly is a winter of crazy weather all over the country. And when you add computer troubles to the stress it's way too much!

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  22. I am glad you all are feeling better. A sick house SUCKS! These calzones look delish

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  23. welcome back love the new look and send me a couple of these!

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  24. Welcome Back :-}

    They sound fantastic Diana.

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  25. I definitely missed you and your delicious recipes but I'm just glad now that you're back and that everyone is healthy again!

    These calzones look delicious...love the filling. It's been WAY too long since I've made calzones

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  26. This sounds great, oh and looks fab! I am wandering around blogsphere looking for dinner ideas for the upcoming week. I think hubby would like this one...we need a little more of my home Texas in our food...I would rather be there eating it though!

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  27. I'm glad that you're all feeling better and I hope you're enjoying the new computers. I can't imagine how frustrating all of that must have been!

    These calzones look and sound amazing! Great pick for your first return post.

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  28. I love calzones!! This one sounds amazing!!
    Glad that you all are feeling better!!

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  29. Hopefully, you and your family are feeling much better.

    The Cowboy Calzones look like they could easily hit the spot. Awesome.

    Velva

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  30. Total comfort food for a long miserable winter...I am so sick of it! I love PW and this looks amazing!

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  31. Hi, I´ve just meet you & love your blog.
    This cowboy calzone looks really good.
    Kisses from Spain-Europe.

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  32. Love the name. The Pioneer Woman is one of my favorite websites! :)

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  33. I love calzones. Your recipe doesn't require kneading the dough. That's already a plus. I'd add jalapenos, too. I wonder if you could make a seafood version of the recipe? That would be excellent.

    I used to live in Dallas. Whenever we'd get severe weather like ice storms or, worse, giant hail storms, the city shut down and we were all paralyzed. Hope that things are better for you now.

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  34. These "Calzones" look and sound fabulously delicious !!
    Thank you for sharing :)

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  35. I do love calzone, and i wanted to try to cook your recipe one of this day.

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