Giant Stuffed Pizza Pockets ~ Saucy Calzones

This evening I made great big Pizza Pockets for dinner.  Well, I actually always think of them as Calzones, but Calzones don't actually have sauce in them.  Personally, I would rather have my sauce in them then dipping them... but that's just me.

These also work well to make ahead of time and reheat.  They're pretty good cold to bring along for a snack, and they freeze really well.

Pizza Dough

3 1/2 - 4 Cups Flour

1 Tsp Sugar

2 Tsp Salt

1 pkg (2 1/4 Tsp) Active Yeast 

1 1/12 (110*F) Warm Water

1 Tbsp Oil

You can either do this pizza dough in your bread machine on the dough setting, in your Kitchen Aid or mix it up by hand.

In Kitchen Aid mix the dry ingredients, Flour, Sugar, Salt, and Yeast.  Turn mixer onto medium speed and slowly add water, then oil.  If dough is too sticky, add a little more flour about a table spoon at a time.  If dough is too dry add a tablespoon of water at a time.  Let it go on medium speed until it is well blended and forms a ball.  I let the machine knead it for a few minutes, then I turn it out on a floured surface and knead it for a little while longer until it forms a smooth elastic ball.  Place dough in a greased large bowl and turn it over so that the oil coats the ball of dough.  Let it rise for an hour.  Punch down dough, and cut it into 4 pieces, make it into balls and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Dough in greased bowl.

 While Dough is rising, do your stuffing prep.  It's a good time to grate or cube cheese, chop up some veggies and slice your meat.  Get your sauce all ready to go.

Your Choice Of Topping or Stuffings...  It's all up to you!

We like:

Pepperoni

Ham

Onions

Mushrooms

Green Peppers

Cheddar Cheese

Mozza Cheese's

Pizza Sauce,  or I use Campbell's Tomato with Basil and Oregano.

After the dough has risen for about an hour it should be about double in size.  ~ Here's a little tip.  When I let my dough rise, I cover it, and put it in the oven, then turn on the oven light and close the door.  The oven light will create some heat and help your dough to rise.

Punch down dough and divide into for balls.  Let them rest for 10 minutes.

Flatten out dough ball on a floured surface.  Sprinkle a little flour on top.

 Roll dough into a 10 or 11 inch circle.

Trasfer dough to parchment paper lined or greased baking sheet.

Now is the time to put on your sauce.  I love this sauce!!!

Spread the sauce in the middle leaving about an inch around the edges.

On half spread your veggies....

And your meat.

Next add your cheese.

Now pull the topping free half over the toppings.  You can stretch it a little.

Start at one end, pinching and rolling as you go.

Work your way around to the other end.

Cut in some vent holes, and brush with some oil.

This is optional.  You can sprinkle on some spices like oregano or basil and some Parmesan cheese.

I fit 2 per baking sheet.  Let them rest for 1/2 hour before baking.

Bake at 350* for half an our until nicely browned.  Remove to cooling rack and let set for a couple minutes to cool.

Careful you don't burn your mouth!  These are soooo yummy!

Pepperoni Bread Sticks

I made up some Pepperoni \Bread Sticks to take with us on our adventure yesterday.  Pepperoni bread sticks are pretty easy to make and are an awesome take along food.  They are also great for taking camping and reheating on a stick over the fire.  Yummy!

I just make bread dough in my bread machine to wrap the sticks in.   I've also bought the Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough and wrapped the sticks in that.  That's pretty good too, and quick.  

But yesterday I made the bread dough up.  Homemade is always pretty good.

To make up Pepperoni Bread Sticks you will need:

Bread Dough or Crescent dough

Pepperoni Sticks

Pizza Sauce or Campbells Tomato Basil Oregano Soup

Grated Cheddar Cheese or Sliced Cheddar

Sauteed Onions (optional)

Bread Dough Recipe for Bread Machine:

1 1/2 cup Warm Water

2 Tbsp Oil

1 Tbsp Sugar

1 Tsp Salt

4 1/2 Cups Flour

1 Tsp Yeast

Add wet ingredients into machine then the dry with the yeast on top of flour.  Set on Dough setting and press Start.   Let the machine do it's magic!  

The bread recipe makes a larger 2 pound loaf, if you just want to make bread with it.  

Once your bread dough is complete, turn it out onto a floured surface.

Roll your dough out into a nice rectangle.   Try and make it just slightly longer then the stick of pepperoni will lay.   You can roll the dough out pretty thin.  

Cut it into strips wide enough to be able to roll wrap around the pepperoni and stuff.  About 4 inches wide or so.

Put sauce down the middle.  I like to use the Campbells Tomato Oregano Basil Soup.  It has great flavor, is nice and thick and has little chunks of onion in it.  But you could just use which ever sauce you like best.

Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.  If you have sauteed onion, now would be a good time to put it on.

Lay your pepperoni sticks on top.

Pull the bread dough up around the filling and pinch it shut.  I pull the ends up and over and pinch them too.

All made up.

Place seam side down on a greased sheet.

Spread more sauce on top.

You could use grated cheese on top, but I find that cheese slices are a little neater.

Bake for 30 - 40 minutes at 350* until the bread is browned.  Lay out on a cookie wrap to cool.  But they are great hot out of the oven.

Enjoy!

If you find that the full length pepperoni is too long either cut them in half or buy the sort sticks and make the bread size to cover them.