Taste of Italy

Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese: Ingredients: 8 Thick slices of vine-ripened tomatoes 2 Tbl balsamic vinegar 8 Medium fresh basil leaves 12 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 8 slices Dry oregano leaves to taste Sea salt to taste Fresh ground black pepper 2 Tbl extra-virgin olive oil Arrange sliced tomatoes on a large platter. Place one basil leaf on top of each tomato slice. Place 1 slice of mozzrella on top of each basil leaf. Sprinkle oregano, salt and pepper on cheese and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Finish with drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Bruschetta al Pomodoro:

Ingredients:

4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced

2 Garlic cloves, chopped

1 Garlic clove cut in half

Black pepper to taste

Salt to taste

10 Medium fresh basil leaves, chopped

4 Tbl extra-virgin olive oil

8 Slices crusty Italian bread

Extra-virgin olive oil (to drizzle)

Combine diced tomatoes and chopped garlic in a mixing bowl. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Add half of chopped basil and 4 Tbl of extra-virgin olive oil. Drizzle both sides of bread slices with extra-virgin olive oil. Grill bread lightly on both sides. Rub grilled bread with cut half of garlic clove to infuse with flavor. Top each slice with tomato mixture. Garnish with remaining chopped basil and serve immediately.

Food is a wonderful thing

I felt it was time to share some recipes we love:

Appetizers

Bacon Roll-Ups

1 lb Bacon cut in half 1 loaf of white bread

1 8 oz Cream Cheese with chives Tooth Picks

Cut the edges off each slice of bread and then cut the slice into 3 strips, continue with the rest of the loaf. Spread cream cheese on each strip, roll it up, wrap a half slice of bacon around it and stick a tooth pick through to hold it together. Continue the process until all are rolled up. Place on a baking sheet and bake @ 350 degrees until bread is lightly brown. Serve immediately.

Meatless Meatballs

1 cup pecans chopped very fine 1 tsp poultry seasoning

8 oz grated cheddar cheese 1 can tomato soup

5 eggs dash of salt

1 cup cracker crumbs dash of sage

1 large onion finely diced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients together except the tomato soup. Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Form into balls and place on an oiled dish. Mix 1 can of tomato soup with the soup can of water and pour over the balls. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to rest for 20 minutes before serving. Will help them to firm up. Unbelievably good.

Macaroni Salad

1 lb of macaroni or baby shells 1 1/2 cups celery chopped fine

1/2 cup carrots chopped fine 1/4 cup onion chopped fine

6 hard-goiled eggs sliced Paprika

Cook macaroni as directed, drain & cool. Set aside 1 hard boiled egg; then stir together gently the cooked macaroni, celery, carrots, onion and remaining eggs.

Dressing:

1 Pint Miracle Whip 1/4 Cup Vinegar

3/4 Cup Sugar 2 Tbl Prepared Mustard

Blend together the ingredients and fold into the salad mixture. Garnish with 1 hard boiled egg and paprika.

This recipe taken from an Amish cookbook and modified.

Marinated Cucumbers

8 cups cucumbers, peeled & sliced 2 cups white vinegar

2 tsp celery seed 1 tsp ground black pepper

20 cherry tomatoes cut in half 1 tsp salt

4 cups sugar

Combine all ingredients and cover. Refrigerate for at least 10 hours. The longer it sits the better it gets.

Breakfast Casserole

1 lb cooked bulk sausage 8 slices of bread cubed

1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese 2 tps. dry mustard

1 1/2 cups milk 8 eggs well beaten

Grease 2 qt baking dish. Put cubed bread on bottom. Put cooked sausage on top of cubed bread. Combine beaten eggs, milk, mustard and cheese together and pur over the sausage. Cover with foil & let set in the refrigerator overnight. Remove foil and bake the next morning for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

I'll add more later. Hope you all enjoy these tried & true recipes.