Pesto Rounds

Pesto Rounds are one of M's awesome appetizers.  They're quick and easy to assemble and your guests will eat them up at your next dinner party.  Not to mention they're petty looking, too bad I didn't photograph them on a nicer serving platter. 

You'll Need:
French baguette, thinly sliced
pesto
sliced tomatoes (one tomato/baguette slice)
Shaved Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheese (comes in a container from Trader Joe's)
salt and pepper 

Directions:
1. Toast the baguette in the oven for a few minutes at 350°F.
2. Spread pesto onto each toasted baguette.
3. Top with tomato, cheese, and salt and pepper.
4. Bake in the oven for a few more minutes until the cheese is slightly melted.  

French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup in mini cast iron casserole dishes from Martha Stewart.

Happy 4th of July!  While the rest of the country is experiencing a heat wave, it's cool and cloudy here; I think it even rained this morning.  Today's the perfect day for us to eat warm, yummy French onion soup.  That's exactly what my boyfriend made for lunch. Sorry America, no cookout here. 

Servings: 6 bowls


You'll Need:
4 medium to large, white or yellow onions
1/2 stick of butter (salted or unsalted)
2 shots of bourbon, Irish whiskey, or brandy (to taste)
2 fourteen ounce cans of beef broth
1 fourteen ounce can of chicken broth
6 ounces fresh Gruyere cheese
1/4 cup of white wine
salt and pepper to taste
baguette 

Method:
1. Quarter each onion and cut into small slices.  Save half of the onions for later. 
2. In a stock pot, sauté half of the onions in butter, until translucent. 
3. Add 1 can of beef broth and bring to boil.  
4. Next add the raw onions, remaining broth, 1/4 cup white wine, and salt and pepper to taste (a healthy pinch).
5. Cook on medium for 30-45 minutes, or until the raw onions are soft and translucent.  Then add the whiskey/bourbon/or brandy when nearly done. 
6. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. 
7. When the soup is ready, slice a baguette into 3/4" slices and toast the baguette by itself so it will hold up to the broth.
8. Put the toasted baguette in a cast iron dish (or bowl that is SAFE to place in the oven).  Ladle the French onion soup over the baguette and top with shredded cheese.  Place under the broiler until the cheese is melted.  Enjoy!

Cooking Notes:
We used a 2 to 1 ratio of broth - 2 cans of beef to 1 can of chicken.  However, you could always make this a vegetarian recipe and use all vegetable broth. 

Use whatever onions you like, with the exception of red onions. 

We ate our delicious French onion soup with a Ruben and pickle. 

Strawberry Bruschetta with Goat Cheese, Mint and Basil

This strawberry bruschetta with goat cheese, mint and basil was elegant, easy, and a HUGE hit at last night's bridal shower!  The ladies loved it and this appetizer complemented the hot pink and black theme very nicely, I must add.


I originally saw the recipe here, and but thanks to my BF he suggested we change two components to make it even more delicious. He has an amazing palate and eye for all things culinary, not to mention he saved this dish.  I purchased a French bread, not a baguette, which did not work.  Literally, ten minutes before I was supposed to leave the sliced bread was a failure. It was all different sizes and some were smooched because the bread was so fresh and soft.  There was no way I could pull it off as an acceptable app and present it to a room full of women - many of whom I had never met. I thought I was going to have to purchase a store-bought dessert on my way to the party, but my BF to the rescue...he sped to the store, bought the correct French loaf, and we were back in business.

I had time to toast the baguette for an extra crunch, per his suggestion, and assembled them at the party.  He also thought we should use BOTH mint and basil.  When you bite into the toast you are intrigued by the flavors and question: Is this mint or basil?  Well, it's both, and it was FABULOUS!  I am definitely making this again for my next soiree.