Broccoli and Ricotta Calzone

You can serve these calzones with a side of marinara sauce..Yum yum. This recipe serves 4.

Ingredients

• 1/2 lbs broccoli florets, blanched and shocked
• 20 oz pizza dough [4 balls - 5 oz each]
• 8 1/8 oz ricotta cheese
• 3/4 oz parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/16 tsp black pepper
• 1/16 tsp garlic powder
• 1/16 oz whole egg
• 1/8 oz water
• 1/4 tbsp Italian herbs
• 1/4 qt marinara
• 1/16 lbs or 1 oz shredded parmesan for garnish

Directions

1. Flatten dough balls into rounds.
2. Blend cheese and spices together. Portion 2 oz [with a #16 scooper] of cheese mix onto one-half of flattened dough ball. Smooth filling slightly, leaving 1/2 inch border.
3. Distribute 1/2 c or 1 3/4 oz of broccoli over cheese. Brush edges of dough with water. Fold over filling, crimp edges to seal tightly.
4. Mix eggs and water. Brush over top of calzones. sprinkle with herbs. Bake at 350F for 18-25 minutes or until the therometer reads 185F.
5. Serve with 2 oz of warm marinara sauce topped on the calzones and garnished with parmesan cheese.

Italian Wedding Soup

Ingredients

[meatballs]

• 1/2 lbs extra lean ground beef
• 1/4 lbs ground veal
• 1/4 c bread crumbs
• 1/2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 tbsp oregano, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

[soup]

• 1/2 oz olive oil
• 1 ea onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 6 c chicken stock, low sodium
• 1 ea carrots, 1-inch julienne
• 1 tbsp oregano, chopped
•  1 1/2 c spinach, shredded
• 35 ea meatballs
• 1 c chicken, cooked and cubed
• 1/2 c acini di pepe pasta
• to taste salt and pepper
• 3/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

[meatballs]

1. Preheat oven at 350 F. Mix all the ingredients. Shape into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes are 'til reads 160F, turning once. Remove and put on a towel to drain. Makes about 35.

[soup]

1. Heat oil in stockpot over medium-heat. Add onion and garlic. Saute 'til translucent. Add chicken stock, carrot and oregano. Cook for 5 minutes. Add spinach, meatballs, chicken, pasta, salt and pepper.
2. Cook until pasta is cooked and meatballs are heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve in a soup bowl topped with 2 tbsp of Parmesan.