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Friday, March 30, 2018

KitchenAid Pizza Wheel Review

To be honest, I take my KitchenAid pizza wheel for granted these days. Until recently, I had totally forgotten my search for a good pizza cutter. My sister was visiting and I pulled out my trusty KitchenAid pizza wheel. When she exclaimed "where did you get that pizza wheel!", I momentarily stopped cutting the pizza and glanced down at the utensil I was using. The memories of old wobbly pizza wheels filled my mind. The years of having to roll the wheel back and forth a dozen times on each cut resurfaced. I instantly appreciated the wonderful pizza wheel I was holding.

KitchenAid has become a name we can trust to make sturdy, serviceable kitchen utensils. The pizza wheel is truly among my favorites, along with the previously reviewed ice cream scoop. The designers at KitchenAid clearly understand what a cook needs in the kitchen. They make durable kitchen utensils that are strong enough to hold up under daily use.

KitchenAid Pizza Wheel

The KitchenAid Pizza Wheel

A KitchenAid pizza wheel is not what I would call sharp when compared to my chef knife, but it will easily cut pizza crust. Unless I have burned the pizza crust, the pizza wheel will cut in one smooth stroke. Frankly, I don't want an extremely sharp pizza wheel since my pizza pan is not self-healing.

The blade wheel does not wobble, which is a huge improvement over previously owned pizza wheels. It is made of stainless steel, therefore will never rust.

The handle is hefty and easy to grip. Plus, the KitchenAid pizza wheel is dishwasher safe.

I would like to address comments about the center metal bolt rusting. By simply rinsing the pizza wheel after each use, before I put it in the dishwasher, I have avoided any rust issue. If you do see rust, clean it off with salt and lemon. Simply coat the bolt with salt, squeeze lemon juice over the salt and let it sit for a few hours. Then, wipe it clean. Be sure to rinse with clear water after you have wiped it clean. That will remove rust when it first starts and you will avoid having to replace your pizza wheel due to a rusty bolt.

Every home should have at least one reliable, sturdy pizza wheel. Now that I know my own sister doesn't have one, I'm sure you can guess what she will be receiving for the next gift giving occasion.

Friday, April 1, 2022

12" Baking Pans & Casserole Dish that Fit Calphalon Countertop Ovens

Last year I purchased a new Calphalon Performance Cool Touch Countertop Oven, which I still love and use often. The biggest challenge I had when I purchased my countertop oven was finding baking dishes that were large enough for meals, but small enough to fit inside the oven.

The interior rack is approximately 13" x 11" which is misleading because it sounds like most standard baking pans would fit, however most do not fit due to handles or depth size. Therefore, I needed new cake pans, pizza pans and a casserole dish that didn't slant at the top or have handles. Surprisingly, the casserole dish was not easy to find.

Most cookware is measured at the bottom. A standard cake pan bottom will be 12" x 8½", but the top measurement is closer to 15" x 10" and will not fit in a 13" (interior measurement) countertop oven.

In addition to handles, casserole dishes often have rolled edges or "lips", which means the lovely top of the casserole dish ends up making that dish to big for a countertop oven. Needless to say, when I found a plain, flat sided 12½" casserole dish, I was thrilled.

My 12½" White Casserole Dish that Fits My Countertop Oven

HIC Oblong Rectangular Baking Dish Roasting Lasagna Pan,
Fine White PorcelainCheck PriceDuring my search, I found I had to rely on customer reviews by individuals who actually measured the cookware. Ironically, in most cases, they were complaining that the dish was slightly smaller than advertised. For me, that half-inch made all the difference. I assume the seller measured the outside of the box instead of the actual dish, which is actually a pretty common mistake when writing a listing online.

Not only does this awesome casserole dish fit my countertop oven, it is also dishwasher safe.

I have used this casserole dish for lasagna, lemon chicken, pork chop casserole and more. All of these dinners easily fit inside the dish and cook splendidly. I have not cooked a cake yet, but other reviews indicate that it is also great for a cake or brownies.

This is a must-have casserole dish for 13" (interior) countertop ovens!

12" Pizza Pans & Other Bakeware

Pizza Baking Pan Pizza Tray - Deedro 12 inch Stainless Steel Pizza Pan Round Pizza Baking Sheet Oven Tray Pizza Crisper Pan, Healthy Pizza Cooking Pan for Oven, 2 PackCheck PricePizza pans were another challenge. I had never considered the size of a pizza pan before. It simply isn't an issue in a regular oven. However, all of my pizza pans have handle grips and are over 14" wide, which is too large for the countertop oven. Therefore, the pizza pan search began and it was just as hard as the casserole dish.

My Calphalon Countertop Oven included one pizza pan. Since my husband and I do not like the same toppings, I always prepare two pizzas for dinner. Therefore, I needed a second pizza pan.

I was very excited to find the pizza pans featured on the right. They come in a set of two, which is actually great. That means I now have 3 pizza pans that will fit in my countertop oven. That is pretty awesome when our son is here for dinner too.

I have also used these pizza pans as baking trays under pies.

In addition to the casserole dish and pizza pans above, I bought a set of small baking trays & pans for cookies, toast, cobblers, etc. A separate bread pan is not necessary since loaf pans already fit the countertop oven.

My Countertop Oven Bakeware

HIC Oblong Rectangular Baking Dish Roasting Lasagna PanCheck Price Deedro Pizza Baking Pan Pizza Tray 12 inch Stainless SteelCheck Price Wilton Non-Stick Diamond-Infused Navy Blue Toaster Oven Baking Set, 4-PieceCheck Price E-far Stainless Steel Baking Pan with Lid, 12⅓ x 9¾ x 2Check Price

Monday, January 14, 2019

Reviewing Sam's Pizza Crust Recipe

Pizza crust from scratch is easier than I thought.

Over the years I have tried to make homemade pizzas. And over the years I have repeatedly failed. But today I made homemade pizza, just the way I like it, using a pizza crust recipe from Sam's Place. My little pizzas turned out great and I can't wait to bake some more.

Sam's Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

Sam's Place is a blog site with a collection of recipes. Sam's recipes are generally easy and tasty. He writes about his passion for "preserving family recipes and creating new ones". I visit his blog regularly and see that he shares quick and easy recipes.

When I decided to try to make pizzas at home again, I went directly to his blog. I found his dough recipe here. I only needed yeast, oil, water, flour, and salt.

I spread the dough out on the pizza stone - baking stones are great! I pressed the dough into a thin crust with my fingers. I didn't worry that they weren't round. On each pizza, I added sauce, mushrooms, cheese, and coarsely ground black pepper. Yes, that is one of my little pizzas in the photo above.

Old Stone Oven Round Pizza Stone

Why I Tried Making Pizzas Again

Recently I was watching a cooking show on television. Lidia was making little pizzas for the grill. She gave me a craving for pizza. Grocery store pizzas are okay, but not my favorite. Pizzas delivered from a local restaurant are divine but expensive. And I never end up eating the entire pizza. Even if I try eating all the leftovers, I either forget or I grow tired of eating pizza and inevitably I end up wasting food.

In the past I have tried making my own pizzas. I don't remember making any pizza that tasted better than the cheapie pre-made pizzas in the freezer section. Frankly, I eventually gave up.

But after watching that television show with the grilled pizzas and remembering Sam's easy dough recipe, I gave it a try. I dug out my baking stone and started up my KitchenAid mixer. Also, I have had good luck using SAF instant yeast. Previously, I failed when baking anything with yeast. But between using the SAF yeast and the fact that my water comes out of my tap at just over 100 degrees, I have been successful making breads. And now I'm successful with making homemade pizza crust.

Imagine making your own pizzas, personal sized or extra large, thin or thick crust, just exactly the way you like them!

The second pizza I made today. Doesn't it look tasty?

Related Links:

Cynthia reviewed the Kitchen Aid Pizza Wheel. She recommends it because it is "strong, durable, and ergonomical". Take a peek at her review for more details. I need one of these.

I bought my KitchenAid mixer two years ago. I had always thought it was an extra and over-priced gadget that I didn't need. But since I have it, I LOVE IT! This is a purchase I've never regretted.

Heather has been a KitchenAid Artisian mixer fan longer than I have. In fact, her review helped convince me to get one of my own. Heather's article also includes information about the annual timing of sales on these mixers. Get that important information here.

Sam also has a Fresh Tomato Spinach pizza recipe. I'll try that next.

Because Lidia's Kitchen show is what started this recent pizza craving, I'm including a link to her Grilled Pizza recipe. Yum!

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Wednesday, July 5, 2023

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

Last month, I was watching an old episode of Chopped on The Food Network and my mouth started watering when I saw one of the chefs in the competition use the crazy basket ingredients for one of the courses to make delicious calzones. Then, my friend Sam Monaco published his easy homemade calzones recipe here on Review This Reviews. I guess I had calzones on the brain, because the next time I reached for my Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix to make pizza, I decided to try using the zero carb pizza crust mix to make low carb calzones instead.

I decided to fill the dough with ricotta, mozzarella and Parmigiano Romano cheeses, precooked sausage and herbs and serve the calzones with a good quality jarred pizza sauce as a dipping sauce. They turned out to be a big hit with both my husband and me. They also reheat well and we discovered that the leftovers are even good cold, which is great for a quick and easy hot weather dinner without turning on the oven.

I've provided both the low carb sausage and ricotta calzones recipe and variations for those of you who either don't follow a low carb or keto diet or who may be watching your calories and fat intake. And you can easily use regular pizza dough with wheat flour, if you aren't watching your carbs.

Enjoy!

Low Carb & Keto-Friendly Sausage & Ricotta Calzones -- Quick & Easy

Using Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix with 0 net carbs makes this low carb sausage and ricotta calzones recipe quick, easy and keto diet friendly!

Just because you're following a low carb or ketogenic diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy delicious pizza or calzones! Check out my product review of Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix with 0 net carbs, which I use in this low carb calzones recipe.

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones Recipe

Using my favorite 0 net carbs keto pizza crust mix makes this recipe quick and easy to prepare so you can get this yummy dinner on the table in less than 40 minutes. It's a real treat for carb lovers who are watching their carbs, and it's also easy to adapt to make it lower in calories and fat.
You can also substitute conventional store-bought pizza dough if you aren't counting carbs, so it's a great recipe for everyone at your table.
Buon appetito!
Serves: 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Baking Time: 18–20 minutes

Tools, Supplies and Equipment

Rectangular pizza stone with pizza paddle
Rimless cookie sheet
9"x12" baking parchment paper
Stand mixer with paddle attachment and dough hook
Large silicone pastry mat*
Rolling pin
Heat-resistant 6-inch wide nonstick slotted turner spatula
Small ramekins

*When making low carb sausage and ricotta calzones, you can't use wheat or semolina flour (which is high in carbs and can spike insulin levels) to keep the dough from sticking as you roll it out. I have tried substituting almond flour or coconut flour, but it doesn't work well. A lightly oiled silicone pastry mat is the best rolling surface I have found for working with keto dough.

Ingredients

Filling:

12 links Applegate Naturals Classic Pork Breakfast Sausage (or other sausage of your choice)
1 cup whole milk (4% fat) ricotta cheese (I recommend Maplebrook Farms brand)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
4 ounces finely shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh or dried herbs to taste (I love Penzeys Greek or Italian Herbs for this recipe)
16 pitted black Greek olives (I use Divina organic kalamata olives), coarsely chopped

Crust:

1 package Scotty's Everyday Keto Pizza Crust Mix
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Assembly:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Water

Dipping Sauce:

1 cup Primal Kitchen unsweetened pizza sauce (Rao's and Yo Mama's are also good low carb, keto friendly brands of pizza sauce)

Directions

Place the pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 425 ℉. Line the rimless cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
To make the filling, pan fry the sausage links according to directions in a nonstick pan, then halve each link lengthwise and slice. (Alternatively, crumble and brown bulk Italian sausage.) Add to a mixing bowl along with the ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, finely shredded mozzarella, herbs and chopped olives and mix to combine. Cover and set aside.
To make the dough, add the keto pizza crust mix, water and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the paddle attachment to mix at low speed until the dough comes together. Scrape the bowl and the paddle attachment, replace the latter with the dough hook attachment and let the mixer knead the dough for about 3 minutes until it is uniform and smooth.
To assemble, use 1 tablespoon of the oil to grease the silicone pastry mat. Divide the large ball of dough into four pieces and roll each piece into a smooth ball. Roll out each ball thinly. Place 1/4 of the filling mixture along the center of one half of the dough, leaving a margin of dough around the rim. Moisten the rim with water, fold the dough over the filling and press the moistened edges together firmly. Use the extra-wide turner to help you carefully lift and transfer the calzone onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Repeat with the three remaining balls of dough and the rest of the filling. Use your fingers to spread the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the tops of the calzones.
Open the hot oven and, using potholders to protect your hands, carefully slide the parchment paper with the calzones onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the bottoms are nicely browned and the tops are baked through.
Put 1/4 cup pizza sauce in each ramekin and serve with baked calzones.

Serving Suggestion

I enjoy serving these low carb sausage and ricotta calzones with either a side salad of fresh greens or just some micro greens, as shown here. (Check out my Hamama microgreens seed quilts review. These microgreens are SO easy to grow, no green thumb required—just soak in water and let them do their thing!)

Nutrition Information

For those of you who are counting calories or carbs or tracking macros on a low carb or ketogenic diet, these generously-sized low carb sausage and ricotta calzones each have 691 calories, 54.3g of total carbs, 46.3g of fiber, 8g of net carbs, 35.1g of protein and 51.1g of fat.

Recipe nutrition data calculated by Carb Manager app

Variations for Conventional, Low Calorie or Low Fat Diets

If you're not worried about calories, carbs or fat, you can easily substitute homemade or ready-to-use pizza dough, your favorite sausages (Italian would be great) and your favorite pizza sauce. You could also roll out your dough on a board sprinkled with semolina and bake on a semolina-sprinkled pizza stone.

To reduce fat and calories, you could try substituting low fat ricotta (although the filling might be a bit watery) and substitute Applegate Naturals Chicken & Sage Breakfast Sausage links.

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones by Margaret Schindel

Posts About My Keto Diet Journey

My First Year on The Keto Diet

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two

Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe

Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review

Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips

My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe

The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide

The Best Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Muffins

Wholesome Yum Keto Bread Mix and Yeast Bread Recipe

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Best Advice to Maintain Your Keto Diet Weight Loss

My New Irresistibly Delicious Keto Cheese Crackers Recipe

Luscious Low Carb Keto Triple Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Quick & Easy Livlo Blueberry Scones Keto Baking Mix Review

Snack Better With The Best Healthy Keto Cookie Dough Bites

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

Blueberry Biscuit Scones — New, Easy, Low Carb Keto Recipe

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea With 0 Calories

Delicious Sugar-Free Keto Cookies That OREO Fans Will Love

Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats Recipe

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

How to Make Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda (With or Without Cream)

Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)

My Personal Keto Testimonial

How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven Review

Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Pizza Oven Review

A Multi-Use Rotating Pizza Oven (and more)

I first had my eye on the Presto Pizzazz a couple of years ago, thinking that it might be a fun kitchen gadget, something I'd use now and then to bake or re-heat pizza. I didn't buy it then because I decided that a one-purpose gadget wasn't a good investment of money or space in my kitchen.

But wait, there's more.

Recently, I came across this clever pizza cooker again, with a new, updated name. Now it's called the Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Pizza Oven. This time I read the outstanding reviews and realized that there was much more to the Presto Pizzazz than pizza. People love this thing and use it for lots of different convenience foods, and prepare food that you wouldn't even think of as being able to bake outside a conventional oven. Indeed, it's not just a one-purpose kitchen gadget, not at all!

So I bought the Pizzazz Plus and determined to test it out for myself.

First We Baked Pizza

First, we tried pizza (makes sense). I bought our favorite freshly-prepared pizza from the deli (actually they're previously frozen, thawed when you buy them, but they look fresh, taste amazing, and we like them a lot). I ended up adding a little bit of time to the recommended cooking time in the Presto Pizzaz Plus instruction booklet and we really loved the result. The crust was perfectly done on the bottom, the toppings hot, and the cheese bubbly. The frozen pizza that I tried later turned out very well, too.

I should mention that there are two heating elements on the oven, one above and one underneath the tray. It's up to you to choose upper, dual, or lower. So if the crust is done the way you like it but your piled-on pizza toppings need a bit more heat, simply choose "upper," add some time, and watch the pizza until it looks exactly as hot and bubbly as you want it to be.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Baked on the Presto Pizzazz Plus

Chocolate chip cookies
baking on the Presto Pizzazz Plus.

Then we moved on to cookies for dessert. Brilliant! I love being able to bake up just four to six cookies from a refrigerated package for the two of us as a quick dessert. Delicious result!

Tater tots make for a quick lunch
or snack when baked on the
Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven.

The next day I chose tater tots to fix for a quick lunch. Again, the pizza oven, now a tater tots oven, performed as advertised using the settings and cooking time for "potato patties" in the convenience food cooking chart included with the instructions.

The breaded, cheese-stuffed jalapeno peppers that we tried next turned out great, too.

That night we tried frozen egg rolls to go with our stir-fry vegetables (honestly, we do eat "fresh" most of the time, but everybody's entitled to a little convenience food now and then). Again, score! And no preheating the conventional oven, which sped up dinner prep time considerably.

All the frozen convenience foods that we tried, even the cookies, turned out great. Saturday morning came the big test: cinnamon rolls, the "pop and fresh" kind. I almost didn't try them on the Pizzazz Plus because it seemed so unlikely that they'd turn out, but my husband encouraged me to be brave, to try and see what happens. Once again I was not only surprised but impressed. Eight cinnamon rolls with the recommended settings from the instruction book were a perfect fit and turned out beautifully, as you can see from the pictures below. And yes, they tasted great, too.

Presto Pizzazz Plus Cinnamon Rolls - before.

Presto Pizzazz Plus Cinnamon Rolls - after.

Presto Pizzazz Plus Tips

Here are seven things about the Pizzazz that are important to remember:

Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven with Instruction Book. Utensils not included.

Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven with Instruction Book.
Utensils are not included.

1. Place the Pizzazz Plus away from the edge of the counter. It's attractive to both kids and dogs, neither of which should be allowed to operate or even touch it without the permission (and supervision) of a responsible adult. Safety first!

2. Don't walk away from the Pizzazz Plus when it's in use. First reason, you might not hear the "ding" when it's done and, even though the heating coils turn off at the end of the timed cycle, the residual heat ~~may~~ will burn the food (I should have taken a picture). Second reason, see number one above.

3. Using potholders, lift and remove the tray from the Pizzazz when you're satisfied that the food is done and set it on a cooling rack or cutting board to let the food, and the tray, cool.

4. To avoid damaging the surface of the tray, don't use a pizza wheel or knife until you've moved the pizza to a cutting board. See number 5.

5. Treat the tray carefully to make it last. Store it in a safe place where it won't get scratched. Use only utensils that are designed to be used on non-stick surfaces to keep from damaging the surface. Consider investing in a silicone or plastic spatula and tongs (useful for turning tater-tots, egg rolls, etc.) to use with the Presto Pizzazz.

6. Read the instruction booklet that comes with the appliance. Test it using the times and methods on the cooking charts then adjust accordingly based on your own preferences.

7. Don't overload the cooking tray with food; leave space between individual tater tots, chicken nuggets, etc. For instance, six cookies, spaced evenly, bake much better than nine or 10 cookies that are too close together.

But Wait, There's More!

(Did I say that already?) There are many other foods you can bake on the Pizzazz Plus, I just haven't gotten to them all. Besides typical frozen snack foods, cookies, and cinnamon rolls, the instruction booklet suggests grilled sandwiches and quesadillas, and even includes instructions for making s'mores. What's not to like about that?!

When I first looked, I was amazed at how many 5-star reviews this convenient countertop pizza oven had received. Now I know why. The very handy Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Pizza Oven gets 5 stars from me and has earned my "Sassy Susan" Seal of Approval.

Did you enjoy the review? Does this appliance appeal to you? How would you use it? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

QUICK LINKS:
Buy the Presto Pizzazz Plus at Home Depot (Best price as I type this - subject to change)
Buy it at Walmart
Buy it at Amazon.com

~Susan
Meet the Reviewer

P.S. If you enjoyed this review, please pin it:

The Presto Pizzazz Pizza Oven does more than bake pizza. Use it to prepare convenience foods and snacks, even cookies and cinnamon rolls!

~Susan Deppner
Read more of my reviews.

Posted by Susan Deppner

About the Author

Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Bamboo Pizza Paddle Reviewed

Convenient Way To Remove Pizza From Oven

Pizza image courtesy of pixabay.com

I recently received a bamboo pizza paddle and honestly wasn't sure that I would ever use it. To my surprise, I actually love it! Can I tell you how many times that I have burned myself trying to take a pizza out of the oven? Let's just say a lot and leave it at that.

We have pizza often at our house. There is an establishment near us that makes them for you to take home and bake in your own oven. These pizzas are delicious and this paddle has come in handy when I am ready to remove them. The size of the paddle more than accommodates the size of the pizza and it is so easy to use. Another advantage is that with it being constructed of bamboo, I can take the pizza out of the oven and also use the paddle as a cutting board.

I don't know if you are aware of this or not so I'll share something about cutting boards and bamboo. This dense wood has become very popular with chefs and cooks around the world for use as a surface to cut fruits, vegetables and meats. Bamboo does not need as much maintenance as some of the other woods that are used for cutting boards. The bamboo doesn't retain water so your board won't become warped or cracked like the others do. Plus bacteria is less likely to grow because there is no water in the wood for it to propagate. Knives do not scar the bamboo as easily as other woods. Those scars can also be a breeding ground for bacteria. Bamboo is earth friendly and easier to grow than say a maple tree. The bamboo will mature in three to six years where a maple won't mature for thirty or more years.

So, I am loving my bamboo pizza paddle as both a way to remove a hot pizza out of the oven and as a cutting board for the pizza and other foods. It is lightweight and with the handy hole at the end, I can hang it on the side of one of my cabinets for storage. Honestly, I wish that I had purchased one a long time ago.

Pizza Paddle Made of Bamboo

What about you? Do you already own one or are thinking that maybe one would be nice to have in your kitchen?

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Friday, September 5, 2014

Halloween Pizza

I love Halloween! All of the fun costumes, the eerie decorations, the spooky music and the creepy food all add to creating a fun filled evening once a year.

When our children were very young and anxious to go out trick or treating, I would willingly defer to my husband and allow him to prepare dinner for the family.

He makes excellent pizzas and pizzas are perfect for Halloween. We could easily grab a piece of pizza, eat it before we went out and finish dinner after we returned. But the real reason we always loved our Halloween pizza was simply because it was so much fun to see what he would do to freak me out and entertain the children simultaneously.

Halloween Spider Web Pizza

Have you ever had spiders on your pizza? I have!!!

Spiders don't normally freak me out too much. Since I grew up with four brothers, none of the creatures that normally frighten females really bother me much. However, having spiders on my pizza really did get to me the first time my husband decided to decorate our pizza with spiders. I don't believe I had ever screeched at that volume or in that fear filled high octave previously.

Now he adds a spider on the pizza each year in hopes of getting the same initial reaction he sparked the first time. I always hate to disappoint him so I have to "act" like the spider is such a surprise and so very awful, but I have never been able to repeat my mournful wail.

It doesn't look very frightening in the photo, but I assure you, if you are eating by candlelight, that spider looks down right evil! Oh, and those horrible rubber hairs on his legs just send chills down my back when I reach for a piece of pizza and accidentally touch the spider. Eek!

If you want to have a bit of harmless eerie fun this year on Halloween, try decorating your pizza with spiders!

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Monday, June 5, 2023

Easy Homemade Calzone Recipe

Easy homemade calzone recipe reviewed. Calzones are fun and easy to make. They are a great lunch, dinner, or anytime snack.

Our grandson Tyler, came over to spend Saturday with us and wanted to make calzones. A calzone is a pizza folded over and filled with anything you can put on top of a pizza.

I went to our local grocery store and picked up some pizza dough, pizza sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage crumbles, and mozzarella cheese. If you prefer to make the pizza dough yourself you use my Easy All Purpose Dough Recipe.

What makes these calzones so easy to enjoy is that you can easily find all of the ingredients at your local grocery store. Pick up the dough and your favorite fillings and you're on the way to a delicious lunch, dinner, or snack.

The first thing we did was roll the dough out in a greased pizza pan.

Next, we added the sauce, pepperoni, sausage, romano, or parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.

Then, we carefully folded our calzones over in half. Rolled and tucked the edges together and brushed the top with olive oil. Then, sprinkled some romano or parmesan cheese over top, and poke several places with a fork. The olive oil turns the top a nice brown and adds a little crunch. This one is all ready for the oven.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, and bake these on the middle rack for 20 to 25 minutes until they are golden brown. Let them sit for about 10 minutes and cut in half and enjoy.

Calzones are versatile, you can use just about anything you like as a filling. Following are some different ideas for calzones:

Typical Calzone Fillings:

Cheeses: Ricotta, mozzarella, cheddar, feta, and goat cheese.
Meats: Pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, salami, Canadian bacon, bacon, steak strips, meatballs, chicken.
Veggies: Bell peppers, mushrooms, artichokes, spinach, onions, hot peppers.
Sauce: Pizza sauce, ranch dressing, or other dressings.

Mix and match any of these ingredients or some of your own to make a calzone to your liking and then enjoy.

One of my favorite kitchen tools is the Norpro Pastry and Dough Roller the same one Tyler is using in the second photo.

Norpro 3077 Wooden Pastry and Pizza Roller Set of 2Check the Price Glad Nonstick Large Pizza Pan for Oven | Round Baking Tray | Textured Cooking Sheet Crisper | Premium Bakeware Series for Home KitchenCheck the Price