Time for Bruschetta!

Let me start this off by saying that I DO NOT like raw tomatoes. Never have, and I don't guess I ever will. I keep trying them, but they just taste bitter to me.  With that being said, I was a little skeptical about making bruschetta, since the main ingredient is tomatoes.

So, here is the original link on Pinterest, http://pinterest.com/pin/218424650646959016/, and here is the site it led me to in order to get the recipe, http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/bruschetta_with_tomato_and_basil/.

So i flash boiled the grape tomatoes for the top, for one minute, then peeled them and cut them. Added the seasonings as directed, except for I used garlic powder instead of real garlic cloves. Once I got everything together and stirred, I cut my loaf of bread (I used Italian) and basted it with olive oil on each side and baked it until it was a little brown.  Then I added the tomato mixture onto the top.

I popped it in the oven at 450 for about 5 minutes or so.  It was absolutely delicioso!!!! The tomatoes were just cooked enough that it took away that acidic, bitter flavor I don't like and it was heaven with every bite.  Here's the finished product.

*As a sidenote* I have made this two other times since the original time I made this recipe.  I added shredded parmesan cheese to the top the second time, and it made it even more heavenly than the first attempt.  I also made it a third time and cooked and cut up a thin ribeye and mixed in with the tomato mixture and put it on top and then added the cheese. It was a meal in itself.  Fabulous.  Bruschetta has become pretty popular around our house! I hope it will with yours too!! As always, if you decide to try it out, please drop me a note and let me know how it goes.                                                 

Sweet & Spicy...Bacon Chicken, that is. ;)

So my next pinterest project that popped up was the Sweet and Spicy Bacon Chicken.  Being as I love chicken, I was not upset by this.  Here's the original pin that I found, http://pinterest.com/pin/202591683207240040/, and the link to the actual website where this amazing recipe waited for me to try my hand at creating it! http://diaryofarecipeaddict.blogspot.com/2011/07/sweet-spicy-bacon-chicken.html

So I started seasoning the meat first....
















Then I added the bacon and brown sugar.

And then here is the final finished product. I added some mac n' cheese and some sauteed zucchini and onions and it was all absolutely delicious!!! The chicken, for me, could have been a little spicier, but then again, I'm a Louisiana girl, and you know how us  folks down here like our cajun spices!! All in all, it is a recipe I will definitely be using again, and I highly recommend it to all of you to try too!!

If you do, stop back by & let me know what you think. I'd love to hear the opinions of your tastebuds!!

First up!! Chicken Bundles

So I'm still working out all the kinks at figuring out how I'm going to choose the recipes from Pinterest each week.  I kinda want to do a kamikaze/roulette type thing, where I don't really get a choice about the outcome, because I think that will be more fun.  But as I am still figuring that out, this is one I had on my Recipes to-do board, so I thought I'd start here!  (PS. If you have any suggestions on coming up with a system, I'm all ears!!

The recipe came courtesy of this pin...http://pinterest.com/pin/202591683207222670/ which then takes you to this website for the actual recipe.  http://www.quick-and-easy-dinner.com/chicken-bundles.html 

I used some chicken I had already cooked and deboned, added the cream cheese like the recipe called for, some onion powder and garlic powder too.  I didn't have sesame seeds, and to be honest, I don't like them, so I didn't use that.  I did add some sharp shredded cheddar cheese to the top of the chicken mixture before I wrapped them, because I'm a rebel, and I like to add my own touch. Sue me. ;)

I also only had one can of cresent rolls, so I did half of them with pie shell dough.  I made some fried rice and corn to go with it.  The roomies seemed to approve and we all agreed that the cresent rolls were the best way to go.  The flakiness mixed with the buttery taste made the insides taste even more yummy.  I personally think I would have liked it better if there had been some vegetables mixed in too, but that's just me.  3 full bellies and empty plates later, I'd say that this recipe was a success!!

My pinteresting love....

A while back, a friend sent me an invite to Pinterest.  At first, I wasn't sure about it. But the more time I spent there, the more I couldn't seem to stay away.  Now, I've developed a pretty healthy (or maybe not so healthy) addiction for Pinterest.

So, with that being said, I decided to start a little project...combining my love for cooking and my love for Pinterest.  Starting this week, I'm going to begin to create one main course/appetizer/side dish type item, one dessert item, and one drink item each week, and post my results here.

I'll take you all with me on this journey, and we'll cook our way through Pinterest!

(And for any of you reading this that haven't been invited to Pinterest and would like to be, just let me know and I'll send you an invite.)