Cook, Clean, Organize. Repeat.: FUN: Build Your Own Calzone Party!

If you are looking for my pizza dough recipe, with instructions for different pizzas and calzones click here!

If you haven't noticed I love having people over, and I always try to find a way to make it just a little more special than just a dinner. KC had suggested a few times that we have my parents over for a "Build Your Own Calzone" night, and since themes are kinda my thing I went all in!

Table set with a "pizza parlor" vibe

I made little pizza boxes out of cardstock and added everyones names with red vinyl to match the tablecloth. Inside the boxes were little slices of pizza I 3D printed with a magnet on the back, because you are never too old for party favors!

Pizza box place cards with pizza magnet favor

I made little cards with all of the filling and topping suggestions that everyone could fill out. While I was at it I made a little drink menu, since this party was to celebrate KC I wanted him to be able to sit any enjoy himself, so I played bartender as well. When my parents got here I made everyone a drink and then had them fill out their card so I could start building and get the calzones in the oven.

Drink menu and calszone order cards

Full place setting

I'd made my dough the day before, I used beer in place of water, and let it rise once in my warm kitchen, then punched it down and put it in the fridge overnight. I got it out of the fridge about 1 1/2 hours before I knew I'd be cooking so it would be room temperature when I started to work with it.

I had also cooked a chicken breast and cut it up, browned the Italian Sausage ahead of time, and sliced my veggies and put them in separate covered containers so that everything was ready to go, and easy to put away as soon as I had the calzones in the oven.

All the calzones fresh out of the oven

I didn't get any pictures after I delivered them to the table, along with a ramekin of warm basil marinara sauce, but everyone was very pleased! I had made sure to set aside some containers to use as doggy bags, we all needed one! The next night I got a text from my dad asking if I could guess what they had for dinner, and said the calzones were "it was sooooo gooooood!" as leftovers.

After I packed up the leftovers and put the plates and silverware in the dishwasher the only other cleanup I had was to throw away the parchment paper and put my sheet pans away, so I could quickly get back to the table to play cards and enjoy the party with everyone else.

Simple dessert of cookies and ice cream

I knew we would all be pretty full after dinner, but after a few rounds of cards I can usually get everyone interested in a bit of dessert. Again, I wanted something super simple, I made some cookies the day before, and then pre-scooped ice cream the afternoon of the party. The cookies, and ice cream, along with some chocolate and butterscotch syrups, and chopped nuts were perfect. (I also sent my parents home with a container of cookies!)