Spanish Bruschetta

When I think of bruschetta I think toasted bread, a tomato slice, basil, and mozzarella. The Spanish has another take on it and it's just as delicious. Most versions that I found simply rub toasted bread with the tomato flesh to soften it and serve with other dishes. I did a slightly different version that is also common. A fresh baguette, fresh tomatoes and garlic are all you need for this delicious appetizer.

Spanish Bruschetta

Ingredients:

French Baguette

2 roma tomatoes

2 gloves of garlic

salt to taste

Directions:

Slice baguette into 1-inch pieces. Toast at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes until golden. 

Halve tomatoes and place into food processor or blender. Dice garlic and add into blender.

Add in salt. Pulse until the tomato is in small pieces but not pulverized. 

Scope tomato mixture onto toast and serve. 

If you wanted you could add some manchego cheese or a bit of goat cheese to the bread for added flavor. 

I made these for a tapas party that you can read about Friday over at Arkansas Women Bloggers. 

Have you ever made any Spanish dishes before, or made a delicious tapas plate? 

Fakeroni and Cheese THM S

   I was craving a good macaroni and cheese but had already had Dream Fields pasta that week and wanted to stay on track so I thought I would try something new. Cauliflower + wonderful cheese sauce = fakeroni and cheese.

For full recipe at new site please click here. There you can also find many new THM recipes.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes: Vegetables

   Last week we talked about turkey, aka the main character on the Thanksgiving table. This week and next week I want to talk about the other dishes on the table, that are just as important, sides. Side dishes are what I typically remember most about holiday meals and are what bring happy thoughts to my mind. I love corn, stuffing, green beans, and rolls, I look for them every year.

A meal would not be complete without the veggies. Some traditional and maybe not so traditional ideas would be.

Creamed Corn- One of my all time favorites, It can be the kind that is cooked down from fresh corn that gets mushy add some butter, sugar, salt and pepper and you have a wonderful dish. Or it can be the kind with frozen corn cooked in cream with salt pepper and butter. Either way will work for me I love it any way I can get it, and look forward to it at all my family gatherings.

Corn Pudding is also a popular way to make corn for the Thanksgiving table. Here is a good recipe from Food Network

Brussels Sprouts- not often found with my family but many people like them. They can be wonderful tossed in butter or roasted.

Broccoli and Cauliflower- Both of these when roasted and sauced have the potential of great flavor, if you don't like them  on their own, Many times they are baked into a casserole and served right next to the green beans. Cauliflower recipe from Ann Burrell and Alton Browns Broccoli casserole  both look delicious.

Green Beans- and finally we have my all time favorite green! I love green beans cooked in just about any way. My favorite lately has been roasted with garlic sometimes called green fries. But I will eat french style warmed up from a can if I'm in the mood. If you google green bean recipes you will find oh so many different kinds. Let us not forget the famous green bean casserole. That is one traditional item that not many leave off and with so many variations why would you want to.

Served here with Creamy Herb Chicken from THM

Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

   This recipe was found by my dear Hubby and I am so glad he did. I have only made a couple of homemade baked mac and cheeses so I was a bit nervous on getting it just right. This turned out amazing though and this sauce before adding the cheese will be my base for all cheese type sauces. It came out ooey and gooey and didn’t set up so hard that you couldn’t enjoy it. Then after baking it is a gooey and stringy cheese sauce you think of and the crunch of the panko on top. It is perfect.

I am trying a new thing with my recipes and adding an easy printable recipe at the end that you can click on and print.

Fresh Green Beans

   A couple weeks ago I went to the Conway Farmers Market, and came out with some great looking green beans! I wasn’t completely sure wit what they would go in but for $3 I could not pass them up. 

Here is what I did with them.

First I cleaned them up. I washed them to get off all the dirt and germs.  Cut the ends off. I tried to make sure they were all about the same size.

Quinoa Bites

    The other night I was looking for a healthy snack to take to a pot luck and came across quinoa bites. I have cooked with quinoa only once before and it was for a supper healthy project so the end product really did not taste incredible, so  I was ready to try it again and thought this would be the perfect time. The ones I found at The Iron You, which I am so glad to find this blog he has some great stuff, are buffalo bites to replace your buffalo chicken wings. They turned out delicious and were a big hit.

Cooking Quinoa

First I toasted it a bit to get a nuttier flavor. Then I cooked it in chicken broth instead of water to add a bit more flavor as well.  All you need to do is add the quinoa into boiling liquid and then let it cook for 15 minutes, make sure all the water is gone. Then fluff with a fork.

Roasted Vegetables

  My latest love in the kitchen has been roasting, especially vegetables. Roasting brings out a whole new flavor to the vegetables, many that I would not eat any other way.

   I have been roasting vegetables on Sundays to use for my lunches throughout the week.  It is an easy tasty way to eat healthier at lunch. I have used a variety of different types; my most common are turnips, potatoes, onions, carrots, bell peppers, and sweet potatoes. 

Lucky Kettle Corn in Honor of National Popcorn Lovers Day

    This week is full of green food, why you ask, because St. Patrick’s Day is next Tuesday! What’s the first thing you think of when you think St. Patty’s Day, for me it is green, Irish, and the Lucky Charm leprechaun. In honor of National Popcorn Lovers Day tomorrow (3-12) I decided to mix up some kettle corn (yes homemade) add some green and of course those fun little marshmallows from the cereal. Look at this awesome retro designed box I found at Target!