In part 3 of the Birrittella's Pizza Dough series, acclaimed pizzaiola Nicole Russell shows Appetito's Andrew Cotto how to make a calzone.

Making Calzone with Birrittella’s Pizza Dough

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Michele Sessa is an Italian American home chef raised in upstate NY with a flair for creating new recipes. When she was young, her great grandmother would watch her while her parents worked. She only spoke Italian, and they communicated through the magic of cooking. The duo would bake, garden and even take care of the chickens, which developed Michele’s passion for making people happy through her food. All the women in her family fostered the importance of family, faith and healthy food.
Working in the apparel business for over 25 years in NYC and traveling the world for developing fashion lines, her love of different cuisines grew. Of course, Italian food is near and dear to her heart, but she now develops Greek, Asian, Latin and Mexican recipes for her family and for parties.
Now living in Florida with her husband and extended family, she even teaches her friends her innovative takes on Italian classic dishes. Everyone wants and invitation to her Italian Sunday feasts she makes for 8-14 family members, and everyone gets to pick their favorite dinner for their birthday celebration. Her Mother Louise has finally left NY and is living nearby, and they love cooking and baking together, especially for the traditional holiday meals. She learned everything about being a gracious hostess from her mom, and they even catered a large wedding for 65 guests in their backyard when her cousins came to America from Italy to get married!
Michele’s love for her heritage and family continues to drive her knack for entertaining, decorating and cooking. Instagram is another place where she shares her recipes, and she has a great following for her handle <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michele7533/">@michele7533</a>. Make sure to stop by her page for inspiration and her authentic stories through her eyes and her food! Casa Michele’s kitchen is a special place that you can visit through her page!

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<div dir="auto">I have a passion for helping others discover the joy of cooking and the power of simple, flavorful meals. As a former competitive tennis player, I bring a unique perspective to the kitchen, blending discipline with creativity. With over a decade of experience as an educator, I love teaching and strive to make cooking approachable, accessible, and fun for everyone. Inspired by my Italian roots, I believe food is love, and every meal is an opportunity to connect. My mission is to inspire confidence in the kitchen and help others create meals that are as meaningful as they are delicious.</div>

Making Calzone with Birrittella’s Pizza Dough

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