Homemade Calzone

I love how the bread is braided over the filling of this calzone. It makes an already delicious calzone look even better. I think every time I make a calzone I am going to take the extra few minutes to braid the bread.

Homemade Calzone

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 -3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup very warm water
• pizza sauce
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• pizza toppings of your choice

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine the yeast, sugar, salt and 1 cup flour.
2. Add in the warm water and oil, stirring to combine.
3. Stir in remaining flour until the dough is no longer sticky.
4. Remove dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.
5. Spray bowl with cooking spray and return dough to the bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 375º F.
7. On a large sheet of parchment paper roll the dough out into a large rectangle until desired thickness is reached. Make sure the length of the rectangle is not longer than the baking sheet.
8. Place desired amount of pizza sauce down the center half of the dough.
9. Top with you desired pizza toppings.
10. Sprinkle desired amount of cheese on top.
11. On both sides of the filling cut the dough, using either a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, into strips about 3/4 inch. Do not cut all the way to the filling, stop about 1/2 inch from the filling.
12. Start on one end to the dough and cross the first strip of dough over the filling to the other side on a slight diagonal. On the other side, cross the first strip of dough over the filling and over the other strip of dough on a slight diagonal. Continue folding the strips of dough over the filling alternating sides.
13. Transfer the parchment paper and the calzone to a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the bread is light browned.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:
The nutritional information can vary greatly depending on the toppings you add to your calzone and how much of the toppings you use. I used our favorite toppings: pepperoni, green olives and banana peppers.

Serves: 6
Calories: 412
Total Fat: 17.8g
   Saturated: 4.3g
   Polyunsaturated: 2.3g
   Monounsaturated: 6.6g
   Trans: 0g
Cholesterol: 20.5mg
Sodium: 824.1mg
Potassium: 55.5mg
Total Carbs: 46.3g
   Dietary Fiber: 8.5g
   Sugars: 3.5g
Protein: 18.6g
Vitamin A: 7.3%
Vitamin C: 16.8%
Calcium: 16.2%
Iron: 8.8%
*The nutritional information will vary slightly depending on the brands you use.
*Adapted from Jimmie Lanley/Hub Pages.