I said I would learn how to make pizza dough from scratch, and I will, but a little later. This time I used Trader Joe's pizza dough. I actually think TJ's dough works really well for calzones, and a little less so for pizza. I love the Mediterranean vibe these have. I like my calzones on the dry side instead of dripping with marinara and with a blob of mozzarella plopping out. These don't get soggy and are healthy. I can be friends with that. They make a great snack; after school, after work, before a work out, or really, just anytime. My mother would always bake these for no reason and loved her for it. I'd come home and they'd be fresh out of the oven and she'd say "Oh, I just thought I'd make some spinach calzones in case anyone wanted one". Why is she so cute? These keep for several days in the fridge (just toast them up in the oven when you want) and they also freeze well. Fresh out of the oven, with a bowl of soup, and you've got a fantastic dinner.
You don't need many ingredients at all:Makes 8 (4 servings)16 oz pizza dough16 oz frozen, chopped spinach
1/2 white onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 c (or more) feta cheese
some Italian seasonings (plus some red chili flakes if you wish)
T grated parmesan cheese
Defrost spinach and drain excess water (squeeze with your hand or through a cloth), set aside. In a medium pan heat some olive oil (have a heavy hand) and sautee onion, then add garlic. Add Italian seasonings, salt and pepper. Stir in spinach and then feta and then sprinkle in some parmesan cheese. Flour a work surface and pinch off rounds of dough. Flatten each one out (don't be afraid to make them thin, as there is nothing to ooze out of these), spoon out some spinach mixture and then pinch up the outer edge to close up the top (I made 8, about the size of a fist). It can get a little too doughy on the top if your edge is thicker, so don't be afraid to really stuff these and pinch them thin. The dough was pretty sticky today so they shut tight easily, but if any of yours open up in the oven it's no big deal. Drizzle some olive oil on a baking sheet and place calzones on it, drizzle more olive oil and sprinkle with some kosher or sea salt. Bake at 400 for about 25-30 minutes, depending on how crispy you like them.
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