Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Calzones

Every Valentine's day I make heart-shaped Calzones for dinner.  This year I decided to make up a new recipe and it did not disappoint.   I included the directions for making them regular and heart- shaped so you can make them however you like.  Sometimes the little details are what make the holidays extra special so I take a little extra time to make them heart-shaped on Valentine's day.   They are equally delicious either way and you can't go wrong with these delicious calzones!  

Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Calzones
Recipe by Prescriptions for a Happy Home 

Ingredients:

Dough: (or you can substitute your favorite pizza dough)
2 1/4 tsp. yeast
1 cup water (110-115 degrees)
1 T. olive oil or butter, melted
1 T.  sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
2 1/2 -3 cups all purpose flour  

Filling:
1 15 oz. container of ricotta cheese ( I used light, but you can use regular)
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese ( the fresh kind is best)

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided

1 cup roasted red peppers, diced

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced  

1-2 T. Fresh parsley, chopped

1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped

1 cup cooked chicken, diced

1 egg, well beaten

Marinara or pizza sauce for dipping, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400.

To make the dough combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a medium mixing bowl.  Add the water and olive oil or melted butter.  Mix well.  Add additional flour until it form a soft dough.  Set aside. 

In another mixing bowl combine the ricotta, Parmesan, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, peppers, garlic and parsley.  Mix well. Add chicken and spinach and stir to combine. Set aside. 

Divide the dough into 8-12 balls (more or less depending on how big you want your calzones to be). Take each ball and roll out into a circle, about 1/4 inch thick.   Spread 1/2 cup of the filling (this may be more or less depending on the size of your circle)  along one half of the dough, leaving 1/4 inch of dough along edges. Sprinkle a little mozzarella cheese on top of the filling. Fold the empty side of the dough circle over the filling side, creating a half circle.  Press the edges of the dough with a fork to seal.  Repeat with remaining dough.*  

Place the calzones a couple of inches apart a greased baking sheet.  Brush with egg.  Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown on top.  Serve with dipping sauce, if desired.

This recipes makes 8-12 calzones depending on the size/shape you make them



*If you want to make them heart-shaped (or any fun shape)  roll out the dough into a large rectangle 1/4 inch thick and cut out with a heart cookie cutter.   On half of the hearts place 1/4 cup of the filling covering the heart, leaving 1/4 inch along the edges around the edges of the dough. Sprinkle a little mozzarella cheese on top of the filling.  Place the other hearts on top of the filled ones.  Press the edges of the dough with a fork to seal. Roll out any leftover dough and repeat until you've used all the dough.