Brunch is a wonderful time to break bread with friends. To spice it up, why not fill a calzone with all kinds of goodness?
March is maddening. One minute it's sunny and almost warm with the full promise of spring and in the next the wind blows and the clouds come back. You wonder if the poet was right, winter has come but does that really mean spring is next?
What's the answer to the March blues? Invite a few friends over for brunch. There is no other meal quite like it: a bit more than a breakfast or lunch but not as elaborate or as involved as dinner. It manages to combine the best of all meals but is seldom formal.
I belong to a writer's group that comes together for brunch twice a month. Over the last two years, we've had pita and hummus, trifles and tea, pancakes, omelets, soup and sandwiches, salads, and pizza. It was my turn today and I decided to make calzones - Italian bread dough with fillings.
Many cooks are afraid to bake bread, but baking bread is so rewarding and fun. I love doing it. I made the dough the night before and let it raise in the refrigerator. Here's my recipe for a forgiving and simple yeast dough.
Dough
• 6 cups all purpose white flour
• 2 cups water
• 2 packages dry instant fast rising yeast
• 3 teaspoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
Mix all ingredients together and knead for 10 minutes. (Yes, you can knead it in a machine but I love getting my hands in the dough!) Put in covered oil bowl either in the refrigerator over night or in a warm place away from drafts until it is double in size (about two hours).
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Take half or a quarter of the dough and roll out with a rolling pin until it is a flat. Next, prepare fillings:
Filling Options
There are many filling options, if you can put it on a pizza - you can use in a calzone. Here are a few suggestions:
• spinach washed dried and cut
• Fresh Herbs - thyme, oregano, basil, and chives. (Not too much you don't want to overpower everything else)
• Ricotta or cottage cheese or feta
• Parmesan cheese (not a lot just enough for taste)
• Pizza sauce (I love the pizza sauces that come in a plastic bottle)
• Olives
• Lunchmeats or/and pepperoni.
• Infused garlic in olive oil to coat the inside of the calzone.
Coat one side of the calzone rolled out dough with olive oil. Put in fillings and fold the dough over. Using a fork make ridges along the sides so it's tight. Brush on egg yolk, put on a lightly oiled baking tray, and bake until golden brown about 20 minutes. Let it cool before cutting.
Another great idea for brunch is a spinach omelet.
Here's another Bread Dough recipe
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