Simple, Fast, Delicious Calzones!

It's become somewhat of a tradition among me and my friends to make calzones together. We get together and make a bake calzones, and no matter how bad the chef, and how ugly the calzone may look, the ALWAYS taste good. And the best part of making calzones? Everyone can personalize the calzones how they want. We have vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores all together at one meals and everyone gets what they want, what could be better? There is no set recipe for this, you can basically put anything you want inside (and outside) of the calzones, but here are some suggestions.


What you need:
-Ready made, raw pizza dough (I use Trader Joe's)
-Homemade Vegan Pesto
Combine in a food processor, basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper. I used roughly four cups of basil, 3/4cup pine nuts, 4 tblsp olive oil, 4 large cloves of garlic, and a 1/4cup nutritional yeast, salt and pepper to taste. These measurements are approximate and can be adjusted to taste. You want the pesto to be thick but spreadable. 
-Tofu/Cashew Ricotta
In a food processor combine 3/4cup cashew pieces, the juice of one lemon,1clove of garlic, and 3tblsp olive oil. Blend until creamy. Add one pound of crumbled tofu, 3 large tblsp dried basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth, taste and adjust seasonings as you like. 

-Sauteed Mushroom
Simply saute sliced cremini mushrooms in olive oil with garlic and italian seasoning until soft.

-Sauteed Red Bell Peppers
See Mushroom instructions

-Sauteed Spinach
Thaw frozen spinach and squeeze all water out of the spinach. Saute with olive oil, garlic, and italian seasoning

-Carmelized Onions
Thinly slice white or yellow onions and saute at medium heat with olive oil, garlic, and italian seasoning until onions are browned and have become sweet.

-Sauteed Zuchinni
See mushroom instructions

-Sliced Black Olives
-Diced Roma Tomatoes
-Red Pepper Flakes
-Italian Seasoning

• To make a calzone simply take you dough and spread it into a  large thin (about1/2in) circle or oval on a floured piece of tin foil. Once dough is spread layer filling as you would like on HALF of the dough, leaving a 1/2in border around the filling. (tip: do not put sauce as the bottom layer, spread tofu ricotta or veggies first, then place sauce on after. If sauce is on bottom the calzone will stick to tin foil). Once satisfied with filling, fold dough over filling and seal edges. Bake according to pizza dough instructions.