Roasted Tomatoes

I don't think it's any big secret that I LOVE tomatoes.

I like them in caprese dishes

I like them all sauced up.

And I also love roasting my veggies.

Roasted (grape) tomatoes become sweet, juicy and the perfect compliment to a steak dinner.

Roasted Tomatoes with Feta

(serves 4)

2C grape tomatoes (rinsed and dried)

4 TBS extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp garlic (minced)

salt and pepper

1/4C feta

Directions 

Preheat oven to 400*

In a large baking dish arrange tomatoes in a single layer.  Toss with olive oil to coat and season with garlic, salt and pepper. 

Roast in oven for 30 minutes or until tomatoes start to burst. 

Remove from oven and, using a slotted spoon, transfer tomatoes to serving dish. Top with feta and serve immediately!

(note: why the slotted spoon? the tomatoes will continue to create their own sauce, so I think it's best to drain the tomatoes originally)

ENJOY!!!

Trail Mix Cookies

This is the picture I posted as  "Guess the Mess" on Facebook...

These are also the September installment of my Dad's Christmas gift. 

I LOVE trail mix (regardless of if I'm on a trail or not)  and thought it'd be a good idea to make a trail mix cookie.

(Apparently these can also be "Monster Cookies" but I've also envisioned Monster cookies to be... HUGE... these are not oversized cookies... these are normal sized)

Trail Mix Cookies

(adapted from my Oatmeal Cherry and Chocolate Chip Cookies)

(makes 5 dozen cookies... 

maybe more if you can keep from taste testing the dough!)

1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)

1 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1  teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup rasins 

1/4 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup peanutbutter chips

1/2 cup crushed pretzels 

1/3 cup M&Ms

(for the mix-ins measurements were estimated)

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in the oats, rasins, chocolate chips, peanutbutter chips, M&M's and pretzels.

Set dough in fridge to chill for  after about 30 minutes, Preheat oven to 350(F) and form the dough into little balls and set on lined baking sheet.  

Bake for 8-10 minutes

When done, move to cooling rack, let cool for 30minutes.

ENJOY!!!!

S'mores Bars

DANGER!

Delicious, addicting snack food post!

 The kids I babysit for in the afternoon (Patrick and Sally) are usually my taste testers and often get "forced" to try new recipes.

I don't think I have let them down and I often ask for the opinion and thoughts before I execute a recipe. 

And while I don't think I'm the first person to think to combine Golden Grahams, marshmallow and chocolate chips, I did follow my gut for this recipe

 (or just followed a recipe for Rice Krispy Treats...)

S'mores Bars

(makes 9x13 pan)

6 cups of Grahams Cereal

6 Tablespoons butter

One (10 oz) bag marshmallows

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

coat a 9x13 pan with butter.

In a pan over medium heat melt butter and marshmallows stirring constantly to prevent burning. 

Once thoroughly melted stir in chocolate chips and continue stirring to combine.  

Remove from heat and stir in cereal.  Once cereal is completely coated, pour mixture into pan and spread (spray hands with cooking spray and press down).  Let cool for 2 hours. 

ENJOY!

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bowl

 I think casseroles have been given a bad rap.

Which I can TOTALLY understand.

But this isn't your Momma's (or Daddy-o's) casserole.

For starters: no cream of something soup!

No oven.

No "crunchy" topping

No, this definitely isn't an old fashioned casserole!

This bowl is full of flavor and spice and a smooth, creamy, cheesy taste all throughout. 

(I will warn you, this IS spicy. If you're not a huge fan of heat go easy on the sauce- you can always add more!)

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bowl

(serves 2 easily multiplied)

2 boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into cubes)

salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic (to taste)

1/4 cup of Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing sauce (or your favorite sauce)

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup cooked quinoa

Directions

In a skillet heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add cut chicken breast and seasonings and cook chicken over medium heat until cooked through (about 10 minutes) . Pour wing sauce over chicken and stir to coat chicken.  

In serving bowls add quinoa and then chicken.  Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.

ENJOY!

Quick and Easy Cinnamon Biscuits

I love cinnamon.

These biscuits used only 4 ingredients and took less than 20 minutes from start to finish. 

So a recipe that is quick, delicious and uses minimal ingredients... I'm all OVER it.

Cinnamon Biscuits
(inspired by the recipe on the Bisquick box)
(makes 9 biscuits)

2/3 C Bisquick
2/3 C milk (I used skim)
1/3 C cinnamon chips
2TBS cinnamon

(you can adjust the cinnamon to your liking)

Directions

Preheat oven to 450*

In a mixing bowl combine Bisquick and milk.  (I've used wooden spoons, whisks and forks to do this- I prefer the fork).  After well combined add in cinnamons and stir well.

In equal amounts drop dough on a greased/lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-12 minutes.

ENJOY!



(for left overs, store in a mostly sealed container on the counter... they'll stay moist for a day or so!)

Tomato Caprese Salad

I've blogged a few caprese recipes but I realized I haven't posted the original!

In case you've missed the previous posts,

Caprese is a light Italian style appetizer using fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil and balsamic vinegar.  

Tomato Caprese Salad

(makes about 12 pieces)

3 roma tomatoes sliced

12 small slices of fresh mozzarella cheese

12 fresh basil leaves

salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar

Directions

On a platter arrange tomato slices in a single layer. Top each slice with a slice of cheese and basil leaf.  Lightly season with salt, pepper and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

ENJOY!