Chicken & Ham Calzone

Who knew that purchasing the 1 and 1/2 pound package of boneless skinless chicken breasts would result in...not 1, not 2, but 3 delicious dinners??? It sure wasn't me!

Every so often - when the weather takes a drastic change with the thermometer reading much lower, I seem to try to cling onto the warmer weather.  It was chilly outside and Grilled Chicken Medley was my plan for dinner the next evening.  The chicken needs to be placed in a Soy Sauce/ Lime Juice/ Cumin/ Paprika marinade for a few hours before grilling.  I use my handy dandy George Foreman Grill.   

Grilled Chicken Medley

There's always leftover grilled chicken, so the following evening we usually enjoy Chicken Enchiladas.  And that we did! Yum!

Chicken Enchiladas

After these two scrumptious meals there still remained about 1/2 cup of grilled chicken.  Sweet!  Maybe another dinner?  Oh, yes! 

A couple of months ago I saw a recipe in dash - a supplement section to our daily newspaper and saved the recipe to try someday.  The recipe was for a Calzone, using a tube of refrigerated pizza dough.   My DH & I do enjoy Bertucci's Chicken Calzone, so this was really worth a try!  A tube of Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust located in the Dairy Dept. in my grocery store was purchased.

Chicken & Ham Calzone

The tasty filling Calzone containing Ricotta Cheese, Mozzarella, cooked Chicken, Oregano, Basil and 2 slices of deli Ham cut in small pieces was absolutely yummy!  I'll definitely be making this again!  It was very easy!  I see Turkey on my horizon.

Chicken & Ham Calzone
     inspired by the newspaper supplement dash

Oven: 425°F    Baking Time:  18 Minutes
Servings: 3-4

Ingredients:
1 tube Refrigerated Pizza Dough - I used Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust.
about 1/2 cup cooked Chicken, cut in pieces
2 slices Deli Ham, cut in pieces
1/2 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 - 3/4 Cup Ricotta Cheese
1/8 teaspoon Oregano
1/8 teaspoon Sweet Basil

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Line cookie pan with Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil.
3. Spray Aluminum Foil with PAM.
4. Open tube of pizza dough and place on foil.
5. Combine ALL remaining ingredients in bowl.
6. Using only half of the pizza dough, place filling on dough.  Leave 1" border on edges.
7. Fold other half of dough over filling to edges.  Roll edges up and press to seal. 
8. Roll edges again.
9. Bake in oven for 18 Minutes. Calzone will be browned and puffy. 
10. Cool slightly before eating.  The cheese is hot.

This Chicken & Ham Calzone was delicious!  Served along with Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad, dinner was easy to prep and so yummy!

Sometimes, do you have a small amount of cooked Chicken?   

Enjoy!
Yummy!

           

~Sausage Soup~

Sausage Soup Simmering - Mmm!

This afternoon a steady rain is falling.  It's the perfect kind of day to enjoy a large bowl of hot hearty colorful soup filled with veggies at dinner.  Tonight, it's Sausage Soup for us.  Two days ago my large Revereware covered pot was put to use.  A batch of this delicious soup simmered along.  We sure did enjoy it for dinner that evening!  After our evening meal and the soup had cooled four labelled portions were placed in Ziploc Freezer containers and two portions were saved to enjoy again a bit later in the week. 

It's just the best to have a hearty soup ready to defrost waiting in the freezer!  Yes, Bertucci's does offer this soup on its menu, but I find their soup consists mostly of broth.  Nothing beats a hearty Sausage Soup.  And the cook controls the salt content!

Now, whenever I make this, I add about 12 oz. of defrosted Green Beans.  Green Beans are a fave in my fam, so I add them in whenever and in whatever meal I can.




Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb. Italian Sweet Sausage - removed from casings
4 cans (14.5 oz. each) College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth
1 can (14 - 20 oz.) Diced or Whole Tomatoes, drained
1 box chopped frozen Spinach, thawed
1 Cup White Rice, uncooked
1 lb. Baby Carrots (rinsed)
1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1 pkg. (10 - 14 oz.) defrosted Green Beans - optional

Method:

1. Remove Sausage from casings and brown in skillet.
2. Break Sausage into pieces while it is browning.
3. Place all remaining ingredients into large pot or Dutch Oven.
4. Add browned Sausage.
5. Bring all ingredients to a simmer.
6. Simmer about 45-60 minutes until Rice has cooked.

*Extra portions can be placed in the fridge or stored in the freezer.  This makes one delicious meal on a very busy evening.  It's always a welcome sight to find a container in my freezer. 

*When reheating, a 14.5 oz. can of College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth is added to the defrosted contents while the soup reheats on my stove.  The Rice has absorbed the liquid.

*Update: Our neighborhood is lookin' good after this welcome sight yesterday!


Thank you, FEMA!

Sausage Soup makes a very tasty meal on a very busy night, like tonight!  

Do you also Enjoy it?!
Yummy!