Pizza is so customizable. You can put anything you like on a pizza and make it personal. The same goes for the calzone, which is essentially pizza in a pocket. I recently made these Calzones with spinach and ricotta cheese and they were divine. I did not make my own pizza dough (I chose the easy way out with store bought), but I am including a recipe for some easy pizza dough.

Calzones with Ricotta and Spinach

Ingredients

10 ounces frozen organic chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

8 ounces organic Ricotta cheese

4 ounces fresh mozzarella

1 ounce organic Parmesan cheese, grated

1 Tablespoon organic olive oil

1 large egg, lightly beaten with 2 Tablespoons water, plus 1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon organic garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh minced organic oregano

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 lb. of pizza dough

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Combine spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, oil, egg yolk, garlic powder, oregano, and salt in a large bowl.

3. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 pieces.

4. With a rolling pin, flatten each piece into a 7 inch round on a pieces of parchment paper. 

5. Spread 1/4 Spinach mixture evenly over half of each dough round, making sure to leave a 1 inch border around the edge.

6. Fold the other half of the dough over the spinach, leaving the bottom 1/2 inch border uncovered.

7. Press edges of dough together and pinch with fingers to seal.

8. With a sharp knife, cut 5 steam vents in the top of the calzones and brush with egg wash.

9. Sprinkle each with parmesan cheese and bake for 8 minutes. 

10. Move to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. 

Pizza Dough

Ingredients

1 cup warm water

1 Tablespoon organic sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (active dry)

3 Tablespoons organic olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 to 3 cups organic flour

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, pour water as warm as you can get it from the tap. 

2. Sprinkle sugar and yeast over the water and stir to dissolve.

3. Add olive oil and salt.

4. Add 2 1/2 cups flour to the mixture and stir until the dough comes together. 

5. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup flour on board and knead dough until it is no longer sticky.

6. Bake crust immediately for thinner, crispier crust or let dough rise for 1 hour for thicker, softer crust.