Empanada + Calzone = Empazone?

Last night's dinner was inspired by one particular ingredient I had in our fridge that I wanted to use - Pillsbury Pizza Dough.  I NEVER usually buy pre-made anything, especially dough, but I had this dough and wanted to make something out of it that wasn't pizza.  My original idea was to make an Empanada (a dough filled with meat, cheese veggies and/or potatoes and then baked or fried).  However, when I started cooking I realized that most of my ingredients were Italian, and almost like a Calzone, which is usually stuffed with Italian meats, mozzarella and/or ricotta.  So this is neither an Empanada nor a Calzone...instead it's the new offspring of the two: an Empazone.  This recipe I completely made up, just based on ingredients I had and wanted to use...this recipe will make 4 large Empazones! I served mine with a side of Marinara Sauce to dip it in :)

Empazones

1.3 lbs Ground Turkey

1/2 White Onion

4 Garlic Cloves

2/3 cup Red Bell Pepper diced

2/3 cup Green Pepper diced

8oz Sliced Mushrooms

1 Tomato

1 Carrot

1 Celery Stalk

8 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

4 tbsp. Pecorino Romano Cheese

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Oregano

1 tbsp Basil

1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

1/2 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Rosemary

Pepper

2 packaged of Pillsbury Pizza Dough

>Chop up your onion, carrot, celery, red and green peppers and your garlic. 

Slice up your mushrooms, unless you got the pre-sliced ones like I did.

 > In a large saute pan, heat up a tablespoon of Olive Oil and add your Red Pepper Flakes and Cumin - let cook on a medium heat for about 3 minutes....then add in all your chopped veggies.

 > Cook these for at least 10 minutes, then add in your paprika, oregano, basil, rosemary  and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms are completely cooked through.

 > Meanwhile in a separate saute pan, cook your ground turkey until there are no more pink spots.  In a sieve, drain out all the excess oil (this will reduce the amount of fat in your dish).

 > Once the turkey is completely drained, add it to your vegetable pan and cook for a few more minutes to help combine all the spices into the turkey meat.

 > Dice up a tomato and get your cheeses and dough ready for assembly!

> Spread out your pizza dough on a greased cookie sheet.

 > Add your diced tomato....about a 1/4 tomato per Empazone.

 > Add your meat/vegetable mixture on top of the tomato, then add 1 tbsp of Pecorino Romano to eat Empazone, and then about 2oz Mozzarella cheese to eat one.

 > Fold your dough over and roll the edges to ensure that none of the filling will leak out during the cooking process.  Cut a small slit in the top so that heat can release from the Empazone as it cooks.

 > Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes (or until you get a nice golden brown crust).

 As I said I served mine with a side of Marinara Sauce, but you can really take this dish in any direction you want and serve it with any side you like!  This dish was AWESOME - Justin and I devoured it like it was our last meal.  It has the Saz seal of approval in that it encompasses all the major food groups into one easy dish - meat, veggies, starch and cheese! YUM!!!

ENJOY! :)