Auntie Ang's Calzone

The Easter weekend is here.  I can look back at the years and remember all those Easters spent on Racine Avenue.  It evokes so many many fond memories.  Of the many memories, I can still picture Auntie Ang taking Rocco, Patty Boy and me to RB's.  It was located at the intersection of Ashland, Milwaukee and Division, near the Wicker Park neighborhood.  I think we walked to Ashland Avenue and caught the CTA Bus and headed North.  There we got to pick out new Easter clothes.  I am sure we got clothes during the year but this was special.  We got to buy them all at once, shoes, pants, shirts and even hats if it were the style.  Rocco was the oldest of the three and I think I looked to him to see what he would buy and within limits, but the same things. God forbid, I would buy the same things. He probably would have killed me if I chose the same things. (Rocco was a big brat!!! haha)  But they were new clothes!! 

Another part of Easter were the Church Services.  We all went to Catholic Schools as kids - when tuitions were affordable to working class families and ALL of the teachers were nuns and priests.  We were required to attend all the Holy Week services.  Rocco, Pat and I were altar boys and participated in the services on the altar for servarl years.

For years, my mom would make Easter baskets for all the cousins.  I can remember waking up on Easter morning and seeing the dining room table full with Easter baskets. 

And, of course, Easter meant food and lots of it.  We fasted all during Lent so Easter meant the breaking of that fast and indulging in the great food preparted for Easter.  My dad's family celebrated Easter Breakfast with pickled pigs' feet.  I can honestly say, I never ever in my life (nor I doubt that I will) ate it.  I can still see and smell the pigs' feet in the pot on Holy Saturday evening cooking on my mother's stove!!!! Ha. Of course, I look at that now with great fondness and smiles.

By far the greatest food memory I have is Auntie Ang's Calzone.  This was definitely a once year event. She would start to perpare it days in advance and would give each family a huge piece.  As I got older and on my own, I got my own piece.   I am  putting that recipe in here exactly as she wrote it down and passed it on. 

ENJOY. Please leave your comments at the end of the recipe.

EASTER PIZZA – CALZONE (AUNTIE ANGE’S RECIPE)

DOUGH:

3 OR 4 CUPS FLOUR

1/2 TEASPOON SALT (optional)

3/4  TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

1 1/2 TABLESPOONS SUGAR

3/8 CUP OIL

3/4 CUP MILK

3 EGGS

Sift dry ingredients, beat eggs, add milk and oil.  Add dry ingredients a little at a time.  Let dough rest in refrigerator for ½ hour before rolling out.  Divide into 2 pieces (1 for top and 1 for bottom).  Add filling, then top crust, hold with toothpicks on top and pinch with fork around the sides.  Rub or brush top with 2 egg yolks.  Bake at 350 until done (45 minutes to 1 hour).

FILLING FOR SAUSAGE CALZONE:

5 POUNDS ITALIAN SAUSAGE (hot or mild)

 (Or 5 pounds of pork butt mix.  Add red pepper, salt and fennel seed.  Mix well.)

1 TO 1 1/2  POUND MOZZARELLA CHEESE CUBED

½ TO 1 CUP GRATED CHEESE (Parmesian, Aziago or Romano)

4 EGGS

Brown Sausage and drain.  Add mozzarella, grated cheese and eggs.  Put in crust and cover with top crust.  Bake until done (should be a nice golden brown color).

FILLING FOR SWEET CALZONE:

3 POUNDS RICOTTA

1/2 CUP SUGAR

1 HEAPING TEASPOON CINNAMON

3 EGGS

Mix well and put in crust and bake until done.

THE GUYS

Anyone who knows me well, knows who these are. 

A picture worth a thousand words?  In this case, it’s worth a million!  These are my pals, my buddies, my guys, my boyz in the hood!! This picture was taken about 1986.  I happened to be with them and Mama Marilyn in Florida on trip to Disney.  It was hotter than hell then and I was quite the crab!  Ask Tony. The oldest one is Jason. That’s Tony with the funny face. And Donny is in the foreground with that wonderful smile of his.  I saw each of the guys born and grow up and it’s seems funny to know that they are all young men now in their 20’s and 30’s.

I can't adequately describe how important they were in my lives (and still are, of course). They have provided me since they were born with a great deal of joy, laughter, pride and AGGRAVATION too!!! And I wouldn’t trade my time with them  for anything.