Campfire calzones: Italian favorite toasted to perfection

One can only eat so many hot dogs and Smores while camping — fortunately, you don’t need to leave your culinary creativity at home when planning your next family camping trip.

Recreate a family favorite — the cheesy, meaty, crispy goodness of an Italian calzone — carefully toasted over an open fire with a mountain pie iron.

We started with Pillsbury Grands dough straight from the can, spreading a half-biscuit on one side of a greased mountain pie iron, and then adding a variety of calzone-ish fillings: ham, pepperoni, mozarella cheese and a scoop of creamy ricotta.

The potential for other ingredients is limited only by the imagination. Provolone cheese would be a great add. Mushrooms, sausage, onions or even grilled peppers would add a certain amount of zing.

The key is to keep the sauce separate for dipping, limiting the sogginess of a traditional pizza mountain pie.