I am an impulse buyer at the grocery store. I am also a sucker for “deals” meaning that I will buy something if it is on sale if I think I will maybe possibly potentially use it at some point in the near future. Most of the time, the aforesaid items end up in my freezer until I feel guilty enough that I end up using them. I am especially bad about this with items from Trader Joe’s because it is not in walking distance of my dorm and so on the rare occasions that I get to go, I like to stock up as much as possible (cough every variety of chicken sausage cough). That being said, I have had packages of their pizza dough in my freezer since October when I convinced myself that I was going to make pizza or calzones at least once a week and therefore needed four pounds of the stuff. Inevitably, life got in the way and I forgot they was there. Until this week when I went down to the freezer to put in some cranberries that I wanted to freeze (that is another thing that was an impulse buy that seemed like a great idea at the time..we’ll see if I use them before I graduate), when they jumped out at me and screamed EAT ME. Ladies and gentlemen, it was like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland, and so I decided to make calzones. Broccoli and cheese calzones to be precise. I based my combo off Robin Miller’s recipe, although I DID make a few changes. Following the advice on the food network website, I halved the cheese. I also used part-skim ricotta and reduced fat provolone (instead of mozzerella…that’s what I had and cheese is too expensive for me to go out and buy more when what I have works just fine), and I incorporated the parmesan into ricotta/broccoli/provolone mixture instead of sprinkling it on the top. AND I used Trader Joe’s garlic and herb pizza dough. It was fabulous. Let me tell you. I am submitting this to Weekend Cookbook Challenge #36, an event hosted and created by Sara of I Like To Cook. The theme for this month’s event is 5 ingredients or less. You still have time to submit something before the event closes on January 30, but even if you don’t be sure to check out the round-up then, which I’m sure will be GREAT.

Broccoli and Cheese Calzones

Serves 2, adapted from Robin Miller

6 oz broccoli florets
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta
4 slices reduced fat provolone, shredded
1/2 lb Trader Joe’s garlic and herb dough
1 tbsp parmesan cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

1) Preheat the oven to 400.

2) Microwave the broccoli for 2 minutes. Mix it with the ricotta, provolone, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. This is what it will look like:

3) Split the 1/2 lb of pizza dough into two equal portions. On a well floured surface, roll out the dough into a circle of desired size. My circles were as large as my cutting board.

4) Put half the filling onto each circle and fold half of the dough circle over it so that it forms a half moon shaped pouch. Cut slits into the top of each calzone and bake in a PAM-ed baking pan until crisp, about 15-20 minutes.

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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7 Responses to Broccoli and Cheese Calzone

  1. Natashya says:

    Love calzones! I am with you – use the cheese you have. I think brocoli is a great idea, I would definitley try it.

  2. Pierce says:

    I just found your site and it looks great. I like the calzone recipe and plan to go back and see some of your other recipes.

    By the way, great goal you have for reading the best sellers list. I look forward to your reviews!

    Tina

  3. Sara says:

    That sounds great! I will be adding this to my menu plan for next week. Thanks for sharing this with me for Weekend Cookbook Challenge!

  4. Donna-FFW says:

    This sounds great and looks even better. Love roccoli and cheese, and then in a calzone.. YUM!!

  5. Kevin says:

    These calzones sound good.

  6. Mrs. L says:

    I’ve been meaning to pick up some of the Trader Joes pizza dough and make something with it. This sounds perfect!

  7. Joanne says:

    Natashya – I think ricotta cheese with any veggie would make a great combo!

    Pierce – Thanks so much for the comment and I’d love to hear your feedback or ideas on new recipes!

    Sara – Thanks for the event and let me know how they turn out if you make them.

    Donna-FFW – I think cheese makes just about anything better :), but that may just be the Italian in me.

    Kevin – They were great, thanks for the comment.

    Mrs. L – It is definitely a worthy buy. It is so convenient not to have to make your own dough and it tastes great. I’ve had the whole wheat and the herb flavors, both were hits.

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