The BEST bruscetta...ever

Ok...so it may not be spelled right...or maybe it is!? But, whatever!

This stuff ROCKS!!! it's so incredibly easy and will last less than 5 minutes!!

The goods:
Fresh tomatoes
Fresh basil
Fresh garlic...do you sense a theme!?
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
BREAD...whatever type suits your fancy...baguettes... French loaf...or a freshly baked loaf of Squeah bread (which we used yesterday!)

Now...
Chop and grate and slice and pour and sprinkle and mix and ENJOY!

Want the specifics?
You can use whatever amounts you want to make loads or a little...but yesterday this is what I did:
* micro-grate 3 cloves of garlic
* finely chop a handful of basil leaves...approx. 15 large leaves(?)
* coarsely chop 4 tomatoes
* I threw in some red onion (maybe 1/4 C!?) yesterday but this isn't typically an ingredient that is in Bruscetta
* approx. 1 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper(but who really measures?!)
* a good glug (that's a cooking term right!?) of balsamic
* and lastly a small glug of oil

Mix and consume ASAP...or you could let it sit in the fridge for a while and have all the ingredients become close friends...but truly, it's delicious either way!!

Oh right... The bread!

Take whatever type you've chosen, slice it on an angle (or not), drizzle some oil on both sides and then bake @ 375* until golden brown.

Hope you enjoy...!

chirizo rosé

ok, let's pretend it hasn't been over a year a while since my last post...

Let's pretend I've kept regular updates and we don't need to try and find excuses explain my absence - because I can't...other than to say, life gets busy with 3 littles!!

So, I made a comment on Facebook the other week that I had just enjoyed a delicious meal of spaghetti and a super simple - but-oh-so-good - sauce...and had some comments that I should post it here!

Now I may have looked at the comments and wondered what incredible magazine they were referring to, and then I may have eventually realized that it was my own blog to which they referenced...but we will never know ;)

Anyhoo...back to the recipe...

I was trying to think of something other than the every-day spaghetti and meat sauce when I remembered a Jim's favourite meal from a local pasta place...

So, I remembered it for my next shopping trip and grabbed some chirizo (mild, but you could use spicy...or any/none sausage if you prefer) and some fresh basil...the rest I already had in my fridge/pantry...

finely slice your chirizo and throw into a preheated-to-high pan...

 


 this it the rest of the "stuff" you'll need (missing in the pic is cream cheese and fresh basil)
 

 after you've got some GOOD colour on the meat, remove from pan and set aside, leaving all the drippings in the pan...then throw in your minced garlic, sliced onion and a few scoops of sundried tomatoes...until you can really smell them
 



 de-glaze the pan with a shot of water and then add a can of crushed tomatoes and throw the meat back in...

 

 once it's all heated up...add some S&P and some sugar...maybe 2 tbsp?
 

 while the sauce is simmering, chop your veggies - whatever you like, this is all I had in my fridge
 

 once you put on your pasta water, add a few spoons full of cream cheese...stir it in well, bring back to a simmer...
 

 once your pasta water has boiled...and you've got the pasta in...throw your veggies in the sauce (this will ensure they don't overcook...

once your pasta is done (imagine a picture of this :))...throw it into the sauce and sprinkle a generous portion of fresh basil and Parmesan over it all....

MMmmmmmm....ENJOY!

::taco soup::

okay...so I was honestly skeptical when I first head about this recipe! But, truth be told, it is de-lish! Even hubby agrees!!

****************************

1 medium onion
1 lb ground beef
2-3 tsp cumin
some oregano and/or basil...if you like
S&P
1 carton stock
additional water (approx. 1/2 a carton)
1 - 28oz can diced tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
a couple handfuls of frozen corn
(you can totally throw in a huge amount of spinach
OR kale at the end for the "lettuce" component
...i just didn't have either!)

*************************

1. fry up the onion and beef
2. add the spices and simmer a few minutes
3. add the rest of the ingredients
4. bring to a boil
5. let simmer for as long as you have before dinner....2 mins - 2 hours :)
   

as you are simmering the soup...prep your toppings!

these too can be as varied as your taste! i simply added what we like to put in our wraps...along with the taco chips:)


once you're ready to eat, serve up a bowl of goodness, sprinkle on all (or some or none:)) of the toppings....and enjoy!!

super nummy
super speedy
super simply!
....homemade!!

::simple squares::

...so simple, my 5 year old makes them here...for you!

what you need:
1 c flour (we use whole wheat)
1/3 c br. sugar
1/4 c butter or oil
coconut
chocolate chips
nuts...we used almonds
1 can sweetened condensed milk
and...if you wish...some Skor bits!

*********************

Step one: mix first three ingredients until crumbly



Step two: pour dry ingredients into and parchment-lined 8x8 pan and mush it down with a masher...or whatever floats your boat!



Step three: make an even layer of the next 3 ingredients...like this




Step four: open the can of sweetened condensed milk



Step five: get the lid off...or ask for help


Step six: pour the entire can evenly over the whole kit'n'kaboodle



Step seven: scrape out every last drop of goodness



Step eight (if you wish): sprinkle a nice layer of Skor bits over the gooey goodness


Step nine: step back in awe of your creation


Step ten: place into preheated 325 degree oven for 20-25 mins


Step eleven: take out when bubbly and nicely golden brown...comme ca!


Step 12-24: bite...savour...devour...repeat!

simply delicious!!

i've fallen...

off the "posting" wagon, that is!!

okay...i'll admit it, i've wanted to be writing on here...BADLY!! but...but...but...excuses excuses!!

so, i thought i'd take this tie to let you know i'm still here, if you are:)

and i'll try and make a better effort to keep in touch!

i hope you understand!

until next time...my little bit of advice for today: USE PARCHMENT!!!

seriously...i LOVE this stuff!! awesome for a stick-free mess of your baking sheets AND frying pans!! SERIOUSLY!! i just made scrambled eggs tonight in my cast iron frying pan (because teflon-non-stick pans are E.V.I.L - but i'll possibly talk about that at a different time!!) and thinking about...no, wallowing the fact that i'd have to scrub all the eggy-goo off the pan and re-oil it...UNTIL i remembered PARCHMENT!!! so, i gave it a try...and VOILA!! a mess free simple fix!!

there ya go...i dare you to try it!!

until next time,
me

needing inspiration!

okay...i AM still here!

but, to be quite honest, i'm needing a BIT of inspiration!!

is there ANYTHING that you are particularity interested in knowing how to make/do??

anything you'd like me to try as your guinea pig??

please let me know!!

i'd be happy to assist you:)

oh...ya...and happy new year!!!

go on over to my other blog and check out my phrase for the new year!

::no fail...no cook::

...so simple...play-dough!!!

this recipe was graciously shared with me by my kindred friend...and we've been loving it ever since!!

so...give it a try, and just see if you're not hooked...to it's simplicity, to it's smell, and to it's ability to keep a child occupied for an unusually long amount of time:)


for an individual amount (double if you want to share)

1 c flour
1 pkg kool aid (the tiny envelopes that are concentrated)
2 Tbsp cream of tartar (do NOT try making it without this! - but you don't HAVE to have this exact amount)
1/2 c salt
1 c boiling water
1-2 Tbsp oil

1. mix all the dry ingredients
2. add the oil to the boiling water
3. make a well and pour the water into the dry ingredients
4. STIR, STIR, STIR... it is in this stir that you work the flour to a smooth consistency and activate the tartar...
5. gather it all up into a big smelly ball
6. ENJOY!!

...so simple!!