The holidays are over and winter has settled in, challenging us to survive what it dishes up. After shoveling mounds of snow & resisting temperatures that would kill an ice cube I came down with a virus that wanted to kill me. My throat was so sore it felt like it should be bleeding and the fever, plus shoveling soreness, made my body feel like it was hit by a truck, twice.

There wasn’t much I could do to feel better accept follow a few tried & true methods I have to help me recover. Besides the usual tea with honey and Jello to help keep up fluids these are the other steps I take towards recovery.

1. Lay on the couch

I don’t know when this became such a comforting thing to do. As a child if I was sick mom would have sent me to bed. That is where the comforting and care would have been so how the couch became the new spot is beyond me. Maybe it is because of #2. There is a sub rule to #1. You also need a comfy blanket to wrap yourself up in.

2. Watch favorite movies

It is comforting to me to watch certain movies over and over again. It’s relaxing because I don’t really have to pay attention to know what is going on. I know how it turns out so I don’t have to deal with uncertainty which gives me a sense of security. Plus when I first saw the movie it made me feel a certain way and I find I can force a good feeling just by watching some movies. My favorites change depending on my mood and other variables. This time I picked a diverse bunch of movies one of which was Despicable Me.

3. Eat comfort foods

This is the best part about being sick. I make it a rule to not worry about what I’m eating when I’m sick. I eat what makes me “feel” better because that is the outcome I am looking for. I want to feel better and not be sick anymore. This step is kind of hard though because I am the one who has to make the comfort food and when I’m sick that is not so easy. I have 2 sets of comfort foods. One that reminds me of dad and one that reminds me of mom. This time I chose mom foods.

In this group is calzone pie. My mom used to make this for Easter and other holidays. In fact the recipe I have from her is for 3 pies because it was always made for a crowd. Luckily I also have notations on the recipe to make just one. So this is mom’s calzone and one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life.

• 1/2 pound Italian Sausage – I buy it loose not in sausage casing but if you can’t find it that way just squeeze it out of the casing.
• 1 pound Ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 – 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1 package ready-made pie crust
• 1 egg beaten with 2 tsp sugar
• crushed red pepper

Preheat oven to 350 °. Put bottom crust in pie pan.

Blend the cheeses, 2 eggs, salt, and pepper together and spread out in bottom crust. Lick the spoon. Okay you really don’t have to do that but it makes me feel better. Dot with bits of sausage. Don’t be afraid to overload it because when it cooks the sausage will shrink.

Sprinkle on some crushed red pepper flakes adjusting to your taste. Top with the other crust and seal the edges. Brush top of crust with the beaten egg/sugar mixture.

Prick lots of holes in crust.

Bake on bottom oven rack at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes. While it’s baking ignore dirty dishes and go back to couch and lay down. Again not necessary for recipe but it worked for me.

 

The ready made crusts were too small for my pie dish so I rolled them out some more and it came out a little crooked but this does not affect the taste at all.

 

This is what calzone means to me. It is so warm and creamy cheesy and a little spicy. The crust all flaky with just a hint of sweetness. Now that’s what I’m talking about when I say comfort food. Yummm!

I feel better already.

I’m just blowing bubbles.