Showing posts with label date nights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label date nights. Show all posts

Saturday, February 4, 2012

White Calzones

Another Paula Deen magazine keeper.  This is a special meal that Jeremy and typically like to make together, after the kids have gone to bed.  It makes up 2 calzones, and we usually only eat half at night and save the other half for tomorrow's lunch.  We have a nice little dance going where I chop everything up while he mans the skillet, making for a nice "date night in".


  • refrigerated pizza dough
  • 4 tsp basil pesto 
  • 1/2 lb. whole milk mozzarella, thinly sliced (we get the whole pound because we can't help but snacking on it while cooking -- that is some good stuff!)
  • 1 T butter
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/2 C chopped onion
  • 1 clove minced garlic (we use several -- I love garlic!)
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 3 c baby spinach, stems removed
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 C ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 C parmesan cheese
  • marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line baking sheet with parchment paper, unroll pizza dough & cut in half horizontally
Spread pesto evenly over half of each dough piece, leaving 1 inch border around sides
Place 3 slices of mozzarella on each dough piece
In large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat
Add onion and garlic and cook 2 minutes
Add chicken, salt, & pepper and cook 6 minutes, stirring frequently
Add spinach and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently
Remove from heat
Stir in ricotta & parmesan cheeses
Spoon mixture into dough
Top with remaining slices of mozzarella
Fold dough over filling & crimp edges to seal
Bake 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned
Cool 5 minutes
Serve with marinara