Homemade Calzones are wicked easy to make and absolutely delicious. Once you learn to make your own you will never order out again!
Today we're taking a break from all the Christmas celebrations to discuss an odd group of friends, a strange pole and a 'show about nothing.' And by now, all you Seinfeld fans are smiling.
It's been 15 years since the TV series left the air but it's still very much around in syndication, popular culture and a little made-up holiday called Festivus.
Celebrated with a bare pole and an airing of grievances, it's a time to come together and say "I got a lot of problems with you people!"
It's all in good fun, of course, and in its 9 seasons, quite a lot of delicious food came up on the show.
So some of my blogger friends and I decided to cook the foods best associated with the Seinfeld years and give away some great holiday gifts.
If you're unfamiliar with Seinfeld (wtf?) here's some links to get you up to speed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
I chose to celebrate with "The Calzone". It's one of my all time favourite episodes.
We're huge pizza lovers in our house. We make something called a panzerotti which is similar to a calzone.
We deep fry ours though. I've already posted our favourite panzerotti recipe with step by step instructions so if you need help figuring out how to seal the dough head over to that post and my daughter will teach you how to seal them perfectly.
She worked in a pizza joint for years so she is far superior to making these things than I am. She helped me adapt our recipe into a calzone. Worked out beautifully.
Now the 1st and 2nd photo in this post I drizzled olive oil over the calzone prior to cooking, brushing it on evenly so it would crisp up more.
The 3rd photo, below, I didn't drizzle it with olive oil. It looks like a more traditional calzone to me but I really liked the ones I coated in olive oil much better.
So just make that judgement call when making them. It's a personal decision based on how you like your dough.
Now for any die-hard Seinfeld fans you will know that George was eating an eggplant calzone during the episode where Steinbrenner makes him a deal to bring them to him every day for lunch.
We do not like eggplant here so we made Italian Sausage and Peppers Calzones instead. I really hope you like them.
These calzones are amazing. We're huge pizza people here, we can't get enough of it.
We probably eat pizza 2 or 3 nights a week. We are always trying to come up with fun ways to make it.
Other Kick Ass Pizza Recipes:
- Pizza Bites
- PanzerottiÂ
- Deep Dish Pizza
- Antipasto Pizza
- Grilled Pizza
- Candied Bacon and Candied Tomato Pizza
- Vidalia Onion Pizza
- Wild Rice Pizza
- Cauliflower Pizza
- Rice Crust Pizza
- Cookie Pizza
- Cherry Cobbler Pizza
Recipes for Dough and Sauce:
As you can see, I'm a serious pizza fanatic! I'm absolutely bonkers for pizza!
Seriously, it's an addiction at this point. So needless to say when we were all talking about the Festivus idea I knew I had to do the calzone. It just made perfect sense.
If you're a Seinfeld fan I would love for you to list your grievances for me. It's such a big part of Festivus.
Here is mine:
- People who rush to turn into traffic then drive at a snail's pace. I want to bump your little car with my truck and flip you the bird. No lie.
- People who stand too close to me in a check out line. I want to turn around and kick you in the shins. No lie.
- People who chew gum like they're chewing their cud. I mean seriously, close your mouth before I do it for you. No lie.
- People who whistle. You bug the ever-loving crap out of me. Unless you're hailing a cab I'm going to want you to shut your piehole. No lie.
- People who make lists. It's so bloody pretentious. No lie.
Make sure you stop by all the wonderful bloggers who are celebrating Festivus:
- Susan from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen is making Marble Rye from "The Rye"
- Renee from Magnolia Days is making Eggnog Frozen Yogurt from "The Non-Fat Yogurt"
- Isabelle from Crumb is making Cherry Almond Muffin Tops from "The Muffin Tops"
- Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake is making Challah Pretzels from "The Alternate Side"
- Shanna from Pineapple and Coconut is making Lobster Scrambled Eggs with Wasabi Hollandaise and Crispy Leek and Potato Cakes from "The Hamptons"
- Kelli from Kelli's Retro Kitchen Arts is making a Big Salad from "The Big Salad"
- Kelly from Kelly Bakes is making Mulligatawny Soup from "The Soup Nazi"
- Joan from Chocolate, Chocolate and More is making Cream Puffs from "The Gymnast"
- Marnely from Cooking with Books is making Apple Pie from "The Pie"
- Diane from Created by Diane is making Black and White Cookies from "The Dinner Party"
- Anita from Hungry Couple is making Chocolate Babka from "The Dinner Party"
Be sure to celebrate Festivus on December 23. Air your grievances, show your feats of strength, and above all else hope for a Festivus Miracle.
Make some calzones. You'll thank me later.
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Calzones
Ingredients
- 2 pizza dough, homemade or store bought
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1 lb Italian Sausage, cooked
- 4 bell peppers, chopped
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp olive oil, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Line two cookies sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Lightly flour your work space. You want just a small amount of bench flour, just enough to keep if from sticking to the counter but not so much it makes you dough tough.
- Divide each round of dough into two. Roll out into a circle, do not roll too thinly otherwise your dough will break when moving it around. Roll the rest out as well.
- Now before you start adding stuff to each round you need to remember not to over-stuff them. You need to be able to fold each one over to make a half moon shape and have enough edge to seal them. So keep that in mind while stuffing them.
- Scoop a couple of tablespoons of sauce into each round.
- Add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of cooked Italian Sausage to each round.
- Add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of peppers to each round.
- Now top each with a good amount of cheese.
- Fold the dough over so each one forms a half moon shape.
- Now press down in the middle a bit to get rid of any air pockets. Then start to seal your edges with your fingers. Just keep folding and pressing the dough till you have a nice rim. Now give the middle one last press then double check your seal again. Now take a pizza cutter and cut off the excess so you have a nice smooth line in the shape of a half moon. Cutting it this way also ensures the seal is fabulous. That's a mini-me trick.
- Carefully transfer each calzone to the cookie sheets.
- Now here's where you get to pick whether you want them brushed with olive oil or not. I say go for it. I like the dough so much better when they are brushed with it. But no sweat if you like yours without. Cooking, and eating for that matter are all about personal taste. This is a judgement free zone.
- Pop them in the oven and cook for about 10 to 14 minutes.
- Serve with a big old Seinfeld smile!
Notes
Nutrition
Thanks for visiting today!
Check out my recipe index for more amazing recipes. You can find more dessert recipes and tons of snack recipes.
While you’re here please take a minute to follow me on Pinterest. I’m always pinning great recipes and fun DIY projects.
You should also follow me on Instagram. It’s a great way to stay up to date on all the latest and greatest blog recipes.
Toodles! xx
LS Gourmet
What a great idea - a chance to air a grievance. I really hate people who walk around yakking away on their cell phone, having conversations that should be private in public.
Kim Beaulieu
Oh man I hear you on that one. I've been privy to some phone convos I should have not been privy to. Who talks about such personal stuff in the grocery store? People have gotten weird. Me and my bro went for lunch in the spring and some lady came in and sat by herself and talked loudly through her entire dinner on her cell. I'm still convinced it was an imaginary friend since anyone that obnoxious can't possibly have any real friends. Terrible.
Emily @ Life on Food
Oh I want one of these calzones for dinner. I am dying of laughing reading these posts. And then I am saying yes, yes, and yes. Apparently I get annoyed easily.
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Emily. I had so much fun doing this. And lol, I always think I'm really easy going but the truth is I'm highly easy to irritate. Ha.
michele nicastro
i hate that i enter contests online allll the time & i never win!!! lol
oh & gum chewing, i loathe gum chewing!
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, I hear that. I'm Canadian so I can barely enter contests. So annoying.
Gum chewing makes me want to hurl. One of my relatives does it and I want to just kick her in the shins when she does it. It's so gross.
Lynn D.
Yes. I needed a calzone now. 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
You do. Stat!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I haven't had a decent calzone since I moved here. It's time I made my own. I love this!! Here they put all the saucy bits inside and it's a wet mess. I want sauce on the side so I can drown in it.
The people in the supermarket who decide to stop to have a chat with someone they haven't seen in 6 months and block the aisles. I could be moved to murder. (I haven't yet)
Kim Beaulieu
You must make your own. Or fly here and I'm make you one. Or meet me in Philly in May for Mixed and we'll take the train to NYC for the day together. See, so many options. Lol.
I had to move a cart the other day because of people like that. They were just a chatting and both their carts were sideways, so I just walked up and shoved it. Only so much patience people, if I ask politely once and you ignore me then you deserve to meet evil Kim.
Sandra | Sandra's Easy Cooking
Looks yummy, Kim! Now I want some Calzones...I am totally craving it at this moment!:)
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Sandra. I love Calzones. They just sing to me. Loudly. I cannot resist.
Dionne Baldwin
While I was never a Seinfeld fan, I can appreciate the humor that parts of the show added to the world around us. Now I am curious to see the episode that inspired this! I have always been a sucker for calzone. Looks like if better get back into my kitchen!
Kim Beaulieu
There are so many iconic episodes. The one called the pact is hilarious. I love the show. Mini-me doesn't like it much though.
I love a good calzones. You must try these. I prefer panzerotti's though, they are deep fried here. So good. So bad for you, but oh so good. lol
Nikki
that stores are open for major holidays!
Kim Beaulieu
Me too. Thanksgiving should be off limits. Makes me want to hurl they open stores on holidays. The world is messed up.
Debbie
Rude people! 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
Amen sistah!
Stacy
Seinfeld is one of those shows that I can watch anytime, anywhere, starting from the middle of an episode and it doesn't really matter. Still funny!
Your calzones look fabulous and I would take one of those with any filling you got, Kim!
Kim Beaulieu
Me too Stacy. I feel the same way. I love watching it while I eat lunch.
Thanks. I love calzones, anything pizza-esque is good in my book.
Elisa S
The calzone looks amazing!! I may have to make it for Festivus this year!! And show the episode to my girls!!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks. You should. I just love calzones. And pizza in general.
Patty M
Those look so good!
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks Patty.
Liz
The Holidays have become too commercialized and phony.
Kim Beaulieu
So true. And sad.
Joan@Chocolate and More
No Lie, I'm loving these calzones! And I'll keep the few lists I do make out of your site! The thing about my lists, I make them then forget about them, forget to take the grocery list with me to the store, forget where I placed my things to do list (probably because I don't want to do most of the things on the list, lol)
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks lady. I love these things.
Ha, I do that too. I have lists everywhere then forget them. Terrible. I think you're right and it's our way of blocking out the chores we want to avoid. lol
kelly @ kellybakes
OMG THE CHEWING!! I worked with someone who ate the CRUNCHIEST things--she made eating a bagel audible! How? I have no idea, but we could hear her eating down the hall. GAHHH. I'm tensing up just thinking about it! Anyway, your calzones? I can totally get behind. I kid you not, I gained 15 pounds my freshman year of college because my dorm was right next to this place called DP Dough that had 3 for $13 calzones (big ones too!) and my friend and I would split 3 together. Oof. Talk about Achilles Heel. It doesn't help it that you reminded me how easy they are to make 😛
Kim Beaulieu
My hubs is like that, loudest chewer EVAH, not even kidding, the man eats cereal and I want to sign divorce papers on the spot. He has a family member who chews gum so loudly and grossly it makes me want to hurl. So icky.
Thanks lady. I love these things. I hear if you close your eyes while you chew the calories don't count. No lie.
Jen
I miss the days of shows like Seinfeld. We just don't have shows like that anymore.
Kim Beaulieu
Me too. They just don't make them like that now. Although I do love Modern Family. It's a very smart comedy. I like stuff like that.
Deusa
GREAT post!!!!!
Kim Beaulieu
Thank you.
Pam Gurganus
What really irks me is when I'm in the store standing in front of an item looking at it and someone steps in front of me! UGH!
Kim Beaulieu
I had that happen to me the other day. I looked at my daughter and yelled "wait, hold the phone, I'm invisible now, the cloak worked". The lady who did it was not amused. I was though.
Ramona W
Mama Mia... these calzones are looking good. It's only 6am here.. and I want one now. 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, thanks lady.
I see nothing wrong with a breakfast calzone. It's a new trend I hear.
Alice F
Hi, my grievance is that I can't reach through the computer screen and grab one of those calzones! They look delicious!
Kim Beaulieu
Ha, I love that. Thanks Alice. xx