Calzano: a Pizza Eruption

Pizza is anything you make it. Diverge too much from the classic margherita and you don't have a pizza. Make a flat bread with red sauce, cheese and meat and all you have is a pizza, know what I mean? So, what do you think, did I diverge too much? You be the judge.
Well, you and my kids, who loved these volcano pizzas. We ate them while watching Life on Fire on PBS. Lava is hot!

Step 1: Set-Up

Use what you want for ingredients. I labeled these photos with what I used. For instance, I thought cheddar and mozzarella mixed would be best for lava-like eruptions but just mozzarella would work. Soft, pliable dough is pretty critical.

The bundt cake pan is perfecto for for a volcano shape. If you don't have one you could use a funnel. If you don't have that either then you should certainly have bought a funnel by now. It's 2013, people. Buy your funnels and bundt cake pans!

1.Separate your dough into equal parts and make some rounds.
2.Stretch them into the the center of the oiled cake pan and press your thumb down into the peak part to thin it out. This step will make it easier to pierce the peak after it is filled.
3.Pack in the sauce and cheese and whatever else you like.
4.Cover that with another round and seal it really well.
5.Up-end the pan and shake the volcano out onto the baking sheet.
6.Crimp the edges and pierce the peak. Top with a little cheese. The heat will do the rest.

If you want to make them really pretty then brush the lovely things with egg wash.

Bake at 350 until crispy and golden.

Step 2:

Crispy on the bottom, crackly on the top and soft and savory all the way through. These are very fun to eat and really simple to make. It took us about an hour, including rising time, but all of that time was also spent inventing, playing and encouraging the kids. I can't think of a better way to spend an hour.
If you make some of these Calzanos please message me or send me pictures. It would really make our day.

Thanks to Claramecium, Elijah (for taking out the garbage), Viv and Audrey for helping so much. You're the most adventurous kids!