A match made in heaven

No, I’m not talking about Russ and me. (Quick grammar lesson: It’s “Russ and me” because “me” works without the “Russ and”.  You wouldn’t say “about I”. Got it? Good!) Although that would be true too. (All together now, awwwwwww!) I’m talking about black beans and sweet potatoes. Mmmm. Hmmmm!

I’ve made black bean and sweet potato chili and black bean and sweet potato enchiladas . So the jump to a southwestern calzone filled with sweet potatoes and black beans wasn’t that far.

By the way, have I mentioned that I’ve given up sugar and alcohol for Lent? It’s making me a little crazy. Just letting you know that as a warning. The Communion assistants at church keep their eyes on me now. They don’t like me taking that extra long drink from the common cup. I also spend lots of time perusing recipes for sweet baked goods. And I keep opening the pantry just to gaze at the box of Samoas sitting there on the shelf. Food porn! (I just mentioned Communion and porn in the same paragraph. I am doomed. Step back from the screen in case the lightning should travel through the interwebs!) I’ve been joking that Easter breakfast is going to be Samoas, jelly beans and bourbon. Only lately, it’s been less about joking and more about planning out how to make that actually happen…

Anywho. Sorry. Awkward.

When I took the calzone dough out of the freezer this afternoon, I wasn’t all that excited about plain old pizza calzones for dinner. Then I had a revelation! Why not make a southwestern calzone with sweet potatoes and black beans as the filling? Why not indeed!

The calzone dough is Mark Bittman’s pizza dough recipe. Such a great and easy recipe. I’ve made it multiple times and it turns out great every time. Sometimes I make it with the cornmeal and sometimes I make it with whole wheat flour and sometimes it’s all white flour. I really like the crunch of the cornmeal. Today’s dough was an all white flour batch. (mostly because I forgot to substitute cornmeal for part of the flour. Lack of sugar in my bloodstream makes me forgetful.)

The calzones just sitting there waiting for their turn in the oven.

And here is my calzone just sitting there waiting to get in my belly!

The recipe is not a real recipe, more just a mishmash of what I had here. Next time, I will make sure to have cilantro on hand and maybe a nice roasted poblano. I didn’t have either, so this is the bare bones recipe. But not half bad, if I say so myself!

Here ’tis:

One recipe of Bittman’s pizza dough, cut into four pieces after it has finished rising

1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

half an onion

cumin, few shakes

chipotle chili powder, about 2 teaspoons

salt

pinch of cinnamon (secret ingredient!)

salsa (I used some Frontera salsa. I love it!)

oil to saute the onions

shredded cheese (I used cheddar jack)

Preheat oven to 350.

Microwave the sweet potatoes. Let cool a bit and mash with a fork; set aside. Heat oil in a skillet, add the onion and season with a bit of salt. When the onions begin to soften, add the cumin, cinnamon and chili powder. Let them bloom in the oil. Add the black beans and let them cook in the spices for a bit. Add the mashed sweet potatoes, stir to mix. I added a touch of chicken broth here to help make the mixing easier. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings.  I had to add a bit more cumin and some salt. Set aside.

Roll out one of the balls of dough into a big oval-y shape and add the black bean/sweet potato mixture to desired fullness on one side of the dough; make sure to leave room at the edges to close the calzone. Top with salsa, if you like, and cheese. Fold dough over itself and add a bit of water to the edge of the dough. Seal the calzone by folding the edge over on itself, pinch together.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

Serve with extra salsa and sour cream, plain greek yogurt or crema.

The filling made more than enough for 2 calzones. I plan to eat the rest for lunch tomorrow! It would easily fill all 4 calzones.

Hope you enjoy!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I hear the Samoas calling my name. I’m just going to go do some heavy petting with them. Nothing below the boxtop.

xxoxoxoxoxox,

jane