BEST BRUSCHETTA EVER Recipe

YES. YES. YES.

I finished reading Liz Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love in about three and a half seconds and am currently reading through it again.  This book resonates with me like 'Julie & Julia' did which should probably make me the 'Popular Easy-To-Read Books For Women' spokesperson.  BUT!  I reeeeally do.  I've jumped on the bandwagon and heckfire-- have even taken over the reigns!

In the book she goes through such an amazing metamorphosis and I feel that I'm on the precipice of such a journey myself.  I adore, admire and crave her search for spiritual truth.  The book is divided into three sections and I won't go into too much detail because you should just READ IT RIGHT NOW YOURSELF, but the first third of the book is devoted to her trip to Italy and it's many pleasures.  

It's the author's relearning of pleasure, only doing exactly what she wants and eating what she wants for the first time in years.  And I don't want to give away any spoilers or anything- like the part where she gets taken in the middle of the night by swarms of ants-- wait, wrong book. (I also highly recommend The Poisonwood Bible).   But I love that idea... (of pleasure not ants!!)

All that talk of Italy & it's delicious food, I decided to make some bruschetta.  I bet you didn't see that comin'!  It's something I've never tried and something I've been dying to do since that scene in Julie & Julia when they're just chomping away on the stuff.  THAT bruschetta looks awesome.  What I've ordered in restaurants before is flavorless and the bread tastes old & hard... GROSS!  I've, thus, never been a fan.

Well, PREPARE YOURSELVES, little lambs... Bruschetta-- made properly-- is to DIE for!!! 

BEST BRUSCHETTA EVER RECIPE

adapted from hurrrr

6 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil

3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh basil, stems removed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

**I also added 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan... Because I CAN.  :)

1.  Chop up your roma tomatoes into chunks and in a large bowl, combine them with the sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper.  Let it sit while you...

2. Cut your slices of baguette about an inch thick.  Drizzle some olive oil in a pan & fry 'em up.  PLEASE don't just toast them... this is about PLEASURES people! And deliciousness!!!  It's the 'Jurassic Park' of Calories-- "We spared no expense!"

3.  On a baking sheet, spread out your little baguettes and scoop the tomato mixture onto each one.  Heap on loads of mozzarella cheese.  I used fresh grated mozzarella... I'm not sure if I'm still alive right now because it was heavenly.  The best decision I've ever made!!!  PLEASURES, PEOPLE!!! BUY THE HUNK & GRATE IT YOURSELF!!!  It's soooo worth the splurge, I'm crying...

4. Bake in the oven at 425 for about 4 minutes or you can stick them under the broiler.  Then pour yourself a glass(es) of fancy shmancy el-cheapo wine and watched Valentine's Day.  Look at that $1.25 ginormous bottle of Timberwood Cabernet Sauvignon.  The UN-Jurassic Park wine... I spared EVERY expense.

Special movie note:  Valentine's Day?  Not nearly as painful as I was anticipating.  Maybe I was missing L.A. and with the movie taking place there, maybe I got nostalgic? Maybe it was the wine and I got a bit carried away with my 'I want to be his ladyfriend' feelings for Bradley Cooper?  Maybe it was Memphis?  Maybe it was summer southern nights?  Maybe it was you, maybe it was me... but it sure felt right!  And scene.

Between this delicious food, the wine and my feminine need to watch a romantic comedy, I had the BEST night in a long time.  It was awesome.  My sister accused me of drunk tweeting but really I was just so happy! 

The letter of the week, boys and girls, is P. 

And it stands for PLEASURE.  :)

Tipsy tweeting and good reads,

MandiCrackerbreadsuckstryhomemadebruschetta!!!