Bruschetta 4 Ways

Do you get into the habit of making the same thing every week?  I do find myself making some of the same things every week and I am trying to be better about finding new good recipes.  Here's one of my favorite new quick dinner solution: Bruschetta 4 Ways!  It's as simple as making some traditional bruschetta and instead of just topping bread top grilled chicken, grilled portobello caps, and pasta!

1 can of Organic diced tomatoes

1/4 c. chopped fresh basil

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

Mix together and season with salt and pepper to taste.

* For the chicken and portobello mushroom add the mixture at the end and top with fresh mozzarella cheese and close the grill lid till warm and the cheese is melted. 

* For the pasta it's best to add the olive oil (increase oil amount to about 3 to 4 tbsp) and garlic to a deep skillet and let the garlic cook for a minute but do not burn it. Add tomatoes with juice and let simmer for about 10 min. Remove from heat and add basil and pasta. Eat and enjoy. (If you want a whole lot of yummy flavor make the sauce the day before and let it mingle in the fridge. Then warm it up and add the pasta.)

I hope your family will enjoy these simple dishes and maybe they will even make your life a little easier!  

Update Your Cupcakes

Cupcakes are the dessert staple of childhood but that doesn't mean you can't gussy them up a little!  My 2 year old Liam has been begging me to let him "cooking" for two weeks and has had his eye on a chocolate cake mix in the pantry.  It truly makes me happy that he love to cook already but it is hard for the control freak in me to let go and have fun sometimes!  Liam is a great helper but insists on "me do that" and in my mind that equals a MESS!  But since my car is broken down and we had no place to go today I decided to make a mess!

Now I know that you have seen cupcakes made in ice cream cones before and this isn't an original idea in the least but it's always been my favorite!  The first time I made ice cream cone cupcakes was in third grade for my birthday class dessert.  If my memory serves me right there was a little cursing on my mother's part due to the falling cones in the oven!  Thankfully today I had better luck and they are in miniature!

To make these little beauties go to Walmart and pick up a box of Joy brand Kids Cones.  I picked them up one day thinking they were regular ice cream cones but they are tiny and adorable!  I used a flat bottom 9 x 9 pan and checked the bottom of all the cones to make sure they were clean and flat to ensure they would stay upright.  Fill with about 1 to 1.5 tsp. of cake batter and bake.  I would suggest using the time on the box but check them to make sure you do not burn them.  In my oven it took roughly 18 to 19 minutes.  Let them cool completely and frost.  The little runs down the cone make them look even more realistic.

I hope this idea will brighten your day and make your next party a little more special.  Everything in miniature is better!