Tag Archives: basil

Corn with Flare

Posted in Side Dish by

Ok, so this isn’t a recipe as much as it is a way to spice up your boring corn in a huge, flavorful way! I get on auto pilot sometimes and forget there is so much more to cooking than heating a frozen vegetable. There are so many thing to try and experiment with! Some of the greatest “recipes” are happened upon when I am trying to spice things up! This really doesn’t take that much longer than the usual corn you serve, and it is much more flavorful. And I promise, your family will thank you for it.

CORN WITH FLARE

  • 1 bag frozen corn (or fresh)
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, rough chop
  • 1/2 red pepper, rough chop
  • 7-10 basil leaves, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet, melt butter. Add peppers and corn. Saute for about 4-5 minutes. Then add basil and salt and pepper. Continue to saute until heated through. Serve hot. Serves 4

Warm Caprese Sandwich

Posted in Main Dish by

 

Have I mentioned how much I love lunch?  Here’s another one of my favorites.  There is something about fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil that is simply delicious.  Those Italians know what they are doing, even with the simplest of ingredients.  Yummy!

Warm Caprese Sandwich

  • 1 loaf ciabatta bread, sliced horizontally through the middle and the cut into sandwich sized sections
  • 8 tomatoes, sliced in thick slices
  • 1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • fresh basil, julienned, to taste
  • olive oil for drizzling
  • garlic salt, to taste

Set the oven broiler to high.

Divide each sandwich side section of your loaf so that you have 2 open-faced pieces, like the picture above (only don’t put all the stuff on yet).  Drizzle each piece with olive oil, and then line one half of each sandwich with slices of mozzarella cheese.

Put the slices, open-faced, under the broiler on a rack set in the middle of the oven (not to close to the element or the cheese will burn), and broil until the cheese is melty and the other side is toasted light brown.

Remove from oven and stack the tomato slices on top of the cheese.  Sprinkle with garlic salt and finish with slices of basil.  Put the two side together, and cut down the middle to serve.

This recipe makes 4 good sized sandwiches.

You can obviously decrease or increase the portion size, according to how many people you are feeding.  When I make this just for myself, I use the toaster oven instead of the big oven, and use the both the top and bottom elements. It makes a nice toasty sandwich.

You can also add a smear of prepared pesto sauce under the cheese layer, if you like.