Baked and Fried Calzone

For the ricotta:

Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir together.

For the pesto:

Combine garlic, basil, pine nuts and parmesan in a food processor . Slowly add olive oil as dry ingredients are processing.

Preheat oven to 550 degrees F.

Sprinkle flour on a wooden cutting board or preparation surface. Slap out the ball of dough into a circle about 1/4-inch thick. Spread a layer of pesto on dough a few inches across, leaving about 1-inch around the edges uncovered. Add ricotta and toppings and fold the dough over the toppings to create a "half moon." Press down along the edges to create a seal so the melted cheese will not leak out. Bake for 15 minutes on a pizza stone . Rotate halfway through to ensure they cook evenly. Serve with marinara sauce .

*Cook's Note: 1 pound of dough yields 2 calzones To deep-fry:

Preheat peanut oil to 350 degrees F. Use an egg wash to seal the edges of the dough. Place in the fryer basket and deep-fry for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown.