Bruschetta

Bruschetta is one of my favorite appetizers, and it's so easy to make! It's light, fresh, and a great compliment to any meal. I've had many different variations, but this is one of my favorite ways to eat it. You can also customize this recipe and replace anything you don't like, or add ingredients that I may have left out. I know many people like their bruschetta with fresh parmesan, which I also think is great, however the fresh mozzarella makes it delicious as well! It can be a little pricey, but places like Sam's Club and Costco often have great deals on the cheese.

Here's what you'll need:

4 ripe tomatoes, diced
4-5 leaves of fresh basil, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1tsp of olive oil, plus about an extra 1/4 cup for the bread
1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper
1 loaf of french bread
1 package of fresh mozzarella cheese
garlic powder to taste

Chop the tomatoes, basil, and garlic and add to a medium sized bowl. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir well, until fully incorporated. Taste the mixture to make sure it is seasoned to your liking, and then refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Start the broiler in your oven. Cut the french bread into thin slices and lay on a cookie sheet. Take a small bowl and add olive oil and garlic powder. Add as much garlic as you want. We really like garlic, so I typically add a couple teaspoons. However, you can add more or less, depending on your taste. Spread the mixture evenly onto the slices of bread.

Broil for several minutes, checking often to prevent the bread from burning. Once the bread has browned, remove from the oven. Cut the mozzarella into thin slices and place it on top of the bread, then add the tomato mixture on top of that. Serve and enjoy!

Spinach and Cream Cheese "Meatballs" -Vegetarian

As I said in my previous blog post, my family and I love meatballs! However, we do have several friends and family members who are vegetarian, and sadly cannot eat the meatballs I typically make. This is a great recipe for vegetarians, and helps them to not feel left out on Italian night :) This recipe is a hit, even with people who eat meat. You can also customize it a bit to make it your own, such as adding fresh parsley or other herbs and cheeses. These also can be baked or fried, however baking is a lot healthier.

Here's what you'll need:

1 box of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1-1 1/2 cups of italian bread crumbs (Start with 1 cup and add more if needed.  I use more if I'm going to be simmering them in sauce, so they won't fall apart)
1 package of cream cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
1/2 cup of chopped or ground walnuts (optional)
1/2 stick of butter
1 tsp of minced garlic
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375. Mix all of the ingredients together, until they are fully incorporated.

Form into balls. Coat a baking sheet in olive oil, and space the balls evenly on the pan.

Bake the "meatballs" for 30 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

Once they are done, you can either serve them, or simmer them in sauce. Enjoy!

Roasted Root Vegetables

One of my favorite ways to prepare vegetables is roasting them. I think they are perfect for spring, because they are light, flavorful, and easy to make! They go with most any kind spring time food and can be seasoned in a variety of different ways, to mix it up a bit! My typical "go to" is with potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic. I do like to also mix in brussel spouts at times, but I have to be in the mood for that :) The aroma from these cooking, is fantastic! Plus, kids love them!! Win-win :)

Here's what you'll need:

3-4 large potatoes
1/2 bag of baby carrots
1 large onion
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp of olive oil, divided
1 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper

Preheat the oven to 425. Start by cleaning and chopping your vegetables into bite sized pieces, and make sure they are chopped into the same size, so that they all cook evenly. Add the salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings at this time as well, it just depends on what you have a taste for!

Toss them in 1 tbsp of olive oil, until they are evenly coated.

Coat a cookie sheet with the remaining olive oil. Carefully pour the vegetables onto the cookie sheet. Cook for 45min-1 hour, flipping once halfway through, and remove when they are fork tender. Try them and add more salt and pepper if needed, depending on your tastes. Then, serve and enjoy!

Sauteed Cabbage in Brown Butter

I love cabbage, however never really knew how to cook it. I had always had it either raw or boiled with corned beef and potatoes, but was never fond of how overly "crunchy" or "mushy" the consistency was. I craved the flavor, but wanted a way to cook it, so it would still have a bit of a crunch to it, yet be soft. One day I decided to just sauté it in a pan with butter and salt, and it was fantastic! It had everything I wanted...the flavor, it was crisp yet soft, and melts in your mouth!! The best part, is that it's so simple to make :) This side is a great option for springtime meals, such as corned beef or even a roasted chicken.

Here's what you'll need:

1 fresh cabbage
2-3 tbsp of butter
salt to taste

First step, wash the cabbage.

Cut the cabbage in half down the middle, then cut into large chunks. I cut out the core and throw that part away, however keep the remaining white part of the cabbage; it's good and crunchy.

Melt the butter in the pan, until is starts to slightly brown.

Add all of the cabbage. Do not worry if it seems crowded, it will cook down. Sprinkle with salt and cook on medium-high, until it starts to brown.

Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the cabbage has browned. However, be careful not to burn it. Taste and add a little more salt if necessary. Then serve and enjoy!

Special K Loaf-Vegetarian

I'm not a vegetarian, however I have many friends and family members who are. I've tried to compile a variety of meatless options for those who don't eat meat, and this is by far, my favorite vegetarian recipe to make. This is something my parents have made since I was a child, so I have many fond memories of it! It may not sound very appetizing, but trust me, it's delicious :) Think of it as a meatless meatloaf or casserole.

Here's what you'll need:

3 lbs of cottage cheese

4 eggs

7 1/2 cups of plain Special K cereal

3 small to medium diced onions

3/4 cup of finely chopped pecans

1/2 cup of brown gravy mix (usually about 2 packets of dry mix if using McCormick's)

3/4 cup of melted butter

Preheat the oven to 350 and combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Mix until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.

Grease a large baking dish and add the mixture, smoothing it out evenly.

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes uncovered, until the top has browned and the loaf doesn't "jiggle" in the middle if shaken lightly.  Let it rest for several minutes, and then enjoy!  I'd suggest serving it with mashed potatoes and a vegetable :)