David and I are taking a #RaodTrip to Denton, Texas this afternoon to go Shopping for my friends #Birthday. Charlie and his friend Andreu are supposed to come with us to hang out at the local Arcade. While there I know we will need to have dinner.
I can’t wait to let Charlie and David know November 1st is National Calzone Day #CalzoneDay. David loves Calzone and so does Charlie. I was thinking we could stop at a Pizza Restaurant for dinner. David can order a Calzone, Charlie and Andrew can share a Pizza. I can order a Salad and Lasagna or Spaghetti if they have it Would you like to go with us?
There’s a lot to love about Calzones and very little (if anything) to dislike about Calzones. That’s why those of us here at National Today are going to celebrate National Calzone Day on November 1st by stuffing a Calzone with our favorite Pizza toppings and then stuffing ourselves with the results.
Of course, since a Calzone is actually a folded Pizza, those toppings are not really toppings so much as stuffings. Anyway, stuffing is the key and stuffed we will be on National Calzone Day. I would like to invite you to join us on this most tasty of holidays for some honest-to-goodness goodness.
National Calzone Day Activities
- It’s easy to celebrate food-related holidays and observances and all you need to do is let your stomach do the talking while creating the food being celebrated.
- Invite friends and family members over, sit around the dining room table, and have each person prepare their favorite Calzone. Then have a baking party and stuff yourselves silly.
- We all have our favorite recipes but part of the fun of National Calzone Day is learning about the many different varieties and trying something new!
Reasons People Are Going Calzone Crazy
- Did you know the word “Calzone” comes from the Italian word for “pants” or “stockings.”
- According to Guinness, the largest Calzone ever made weighed 212 pounds and this Calazone was baked in 2014 by Rulli’s Italian Restaurant in Middlebury, Indiana.
- Calzones typically have the same amount of Pizza Dough as a regular Pizza. In fact, one whole Calzone can contain more than 2,000 calories.
Why People Love National Calzone Day
Not only do Calzones hold there shape you can put just about whatever you want inside.
Even the most “typical” Calzone is overflowing with tasty goodness: Salted Bread baked to a crisp, golden perfection on the outside (warm and chewy on the inside), and stuffed with Meats, Cheeses, and Veggies.
Did you know Science tells us that Calzones are not only delicious, but efficient. That’s because Calzones, folded as they are, feature a lower surface-to-volume ratio than regular Pizzas, resulting in better heat retention.
Recipe for Calzone
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 large egg, beaten
Filling:
- 1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup diced pepperoni
- ½ cup sliced fresh mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
Directions
- Make dough: Dissolve yeast in warm water in a mixing bowl; let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon oil, sugar, and salt; mix in 1 cup flour until smooth. Gradually stir in remaining flour until dough is smooth and workable.
- Make dough: Dissolve yeast in warm water in a mixing bowl; let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon oil, sugar, and salt; mix in 1 cup flour until smooth. Gradually stir in remaining flour until dough is smooth and workable.
- Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine Cheddar cheese, ricotta cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, and basil leaves in a medium bowl. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate to chill.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
- Punch down dough; divide into 2 equal pieces. Roll each piece out on a lightly floured surface into 1/8-inch-thick circles. Fill each circle with 1/2 of the cheese and meat filling.
- Fold dough over filling to make a semicircle. Press edges down with the tines of a fork to seal.
- Brush the top of each calzone with beaten egg and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
