Klosekraft: Calzones of peril!

While my rational brain knows that there probably isn't a causal connection between making these calzones and being gracelessly dumped the next day, my superstitious streak insists that I warn you. I made them for lunch for a hike D and I were supposed to go on today, only to show up at his apartment this morning and learn that there was another girl there.

And while I don't want you to underestimate the dangers that may be inherent in making the Calzones of Peril, full disclosure is that they're also pretty tasty and not at all difficult to make. They're filling and portable, making them excellent hiking lunches, and, depending on your filling choices, can be reasonably good for you as well. Should you be willing to run the risk, this is what I did.

Make a batch of basic pizza dough. After it rises for an hour, divide it in four parts and roll each out to approximately 8" or 9" circles. Pile filling in the middle (quite a lot— it compresses), fold the dough over it and pinch the edges to seal. Rub or brush olive oil on the whole surface. Cut a few small slits to let steam escape. Bake at 350 until dough is lightly browned, 20 minutes or so.

As far as filling goes, pretty much anything works as long as it's not too liquidy. I made two: a spinach/ricotta mixture and a roasted vegetable/sausage mixture. (I know! What kind of douchebag would cheat on me?!) To start, I chopped up an onion and browned it in a little olive oil. Then I mixed half of the onion with one package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained, enough ricotta to hold it together and pinches of nutmeg and salt. You'll have to take my word on this. I managed to not take a single photo of anything spinach-related.

For the second filling, I just used up leftovers I had in the fridge. I had some roasted vegetables:

I chopped them and the one last chicken/apple sausage that was hanging around pretty fine and added a few shakes of crushed red pepper and some salt. It looked like this:

I don't know why I didn't take any pictures of the assembly, but I didn't.

The finished product:

But really: for this I missed Rhinebeck?

Comments

Not that the graceless dumping has anything to do with my delurking...just to let you know that I enjoy your blog very much.

Beside, I make calzones the *exact* same way, using Bittman's recipe even. So far they haven't been Calzones of Peril pour moi! Enjoy the calzones, they are evidently not worth sharing!

Posted by:Carishma Welch | October 21, 2007 at 09:17 PM

I have never met you, or this D person but if I did I would give him the smackdown. When I got dumped last spring I took up birdwatching to take my mind off the whole mess. It was a wierdly comforting distraction.

Posted by:sarah who bought your cashmere sock yarn | October 21, 2007 at 09:25 PM

Thank you for the calzone instructions; yours looks delish. Are you really feeling as nonchalant about the peril part as you seem? I hope so... what a terrible alternative to Rheinbeck!

Posted by:Karma | October 21, 2007 at 10:04 PM

Dude. That sucks ass. You'd have had far more fun with us this weekend.

Posted by:claudia | October 21, 2007 at 10:10 PM

I am so sorry to hear that. What a jerk. Thank you for the lovely cashmere. I got it yesterday.

Posted by:R. Green | October 21, 2007 at 10:47 PM

Well what an asshat. He's dead to us.

Next year, Rhinebeck - boys be damned. Take care.

Posted by:Sil | October 21, 2007 at 11:14 PM

Regarding the cheating scumbag - words fail me. But the calzone looks darn good, even with brussels sprouts.

Posted by:Catherine | October 21, 2007 at 11:16 PM

What a wanker. But that calzone looks tasty.

Posted by:Phoe | October 22, 2007 at 07:29 AM