Fresh Take

This recipe was simple:

Any type of your favorite pasta

Fresh cut tomatoes

frozen basil --

(a new fav find at TJ's, you pop little squares of it out into ANYTHING YOU EAT, I think it is better than fresh)

minced garlic

all tossed with a little EVVO

fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

topped with grated sheep cheese

The bread was also a delicious find, a rosemary loaf lightly sprinkled with olive oil and balsamic, topped with cheese. 

Dangerously Cheesy

A pasta I have been dying to try my hand at for some time, this recipe was a cinch, and quite delicious.  Olive oil is heated up in a pan, a few cloves of garlic is added and sauteed until a light brown, 28 oz of pulsed italian plum tomatoes, crushed red pepper and salt to taste are added.  This mixture is brought to a simmer for ten minutes-boil one pound pasta (mostaccili is preferred) simultaneously.  Drain pasta, add tomato mixture and one pound of mozzarella cheese, cubed.  Served with parmesan cheese and fresh basil, it's a crowd pleaser.
Bread was spread with butter, sprinkled with parmesan cheese, and broiled.

Double the Mashed Potato Pleasure!

It was a normal idea, that grew to full on home-cooked meal proportions.

First came the mashed potatoes, with sour cream, butter, and frozen corn (boiled, please)
Next came the sliced tomatoes and red onion (originally planned with avocado as well, but that is a sore subject) drizzled with oil and balsamic vinegar.
And last came the crown jewel of our hearty collection, the pan-seared pork loin, chosen with precision by the professionals behind the meat counter, and finished with a pan sauce made with chicken broth and reduced balsamic vinegar.  Mirrored image, you ask? No, just identical plates of potato and pork perfection.

The morning rolled around, and we had made just enough mash to fill our longing stomachs with the potatoes they desired.  Simply add an egg, and in our case diced red onion to the mix, dollop onto a hot pan, and serve with sour cream and apple sauce.  Hot sauce or ketchup are viable options as well.   

German Pancakes

I don't want to beat the pancake horse to death, but I think I just did.  Sorry you poor, poor pancake horse.                                                                       

These were made extra delicious and thick simply by adding an extra egg. Paired with raspberries, mango, and pear, you really can't go wrong.

Halloweeeen!

It happened again. 

We just started throwing things into the recipe, and deliciousness was conceived into flat, round treats of pure pleasure (pancakes).  

Eggs\Milk\Brown Sugar\Baking Powder\Baking Soda\Bacon Grease\Flour\Mango

Topped with lemon curd and blackberries
I call 'em, Brown Sugar Mango Pancakes

Blackberry/Lemon Curd Pancakes

At the local grocery store, 

planning to make some 'cakes

These blackberries caught our eye

the thought-a delicious breakfast makes

Mixed in, on top berries were everywhere!

Doused with maple syrup and lemon curd to boot

Served with milk and love, 

We scored the best of morning loot. 

Homemade Tomato Soup

A friend of mine and I traveled to the local TJ, decided to make Tomato Soup, and promptly started throwing things into our baskets.  The result was....so delicious it will be talked of for a lifetime, and made over and over again in all of my households.  Here is the recipe:
16oz fresh diced tomatoes
1/8 cup butter
1/4 fresh diced onion
1/2 yellow pepper
generous 1/2 cup of chicken broth
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/8 tsp baking soda
salt and pepper
taragon
sea salt
basil
thyme
all simmered over medium heat for 30 minutes.
In a smaller saucepan, near the end of the thirty minutes, 1 cup of heavy whipping cream is heated up.
Both pans are turned off, the cream is added to the larger pan, stirred together, and immediately served garnished with fresh ground pepper and cilantro. 
the french bread was brushed with olive oil, peppered and salted, and broiled on low for 5 minutes.