Bruschetta Recipe

Ok, so here it is...the Bruschetta recipe from the movie Julie & Julia. It is a GREAT movie, a must see if you like to cook!




Bruschetta
1 loaf Italian bread
1-2 cloves garlic, peeled and cut in half
8 ripe roma tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 Tbs. fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced (this cannot be omitted)
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, slice bread diagonally into scant 1/2-inch-thick slices; reserve ends for making bread crumbs another day. Place bread slices on 2 cookie sheets.
2.Toast bread on 2 oven racks 15 minutes or until crusty and dry, turning slices over once and rotating cookie sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking. Transfer bread to wire racks to cool slightly. When bread is cool enough to handle, rub 1 side of each toast slice with cut side of garlic. Discard garlic.
3.Meanwhile, in small bowl, gently toss tomatoes, basil, oil, salt, and pepper until combined.
4.To serve, spoon 1 heaping tablespoon tomato mixture on garlic-rubbed side of each toast slice.

Girl's Night - KENO

Last week was busy with cooking for Dan's Monday night Life Group and hosting my KENO group on Tuesday. We had so much fun at KENO...it's not really about the game, it's about getting away from the husbands and kids and hanging out with the girls. Everyone brings a $5-$10 gift and $2 cash and we take turns hosting. It's like BINGO only with cards. But, in the end everyone goes home with a gift. I have been playing KENO with 'the girls' the 2nd Tuesday of every month for almost 10 years!! It started in Arlington with a group of girls from church. We moved in August 2005 and I drove back to my group for a couple of months, but in October '05 my current group was formed in our new town. There is always an ebb and flow of players. People drop out for different reasons and new people join.

I, of course, chose November to host at my house since fall if my favorite time of year. I got to use my new white and brown dishes and set the table with fall colored candles and glass rocks in a large rectangle white tray.

The Menu
-Bruschetta (from the movie "Julie & Julia")
-Green Salad
-Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
-Eclair Cake (Claire thinks this is named after her!)

I don't even like raw tomatoes, but this Bruschetta is to die for (pronounced bra-sketta, not bra-shetta per Giada from Everyday Italian - one of my favorite shows). I'm posting the recipe for the main dish, let me know if you want the recipe for the bruschetta and dessert...

Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna
1 (6-oz.) package fresh baby spinach, thoroughly washed
1/3 cup pesto
1 (15-oz.) jar Alfredo sauce - I used Bertolli
1/4 cup vegetable broth*
1 (25-oz.) package frozen cheese or beef-filled ravioli (do not thaw)
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Italian six-cheese blend
Garnishes: chopped fresh basil, paprika
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Chop spinach, and toss with pesto in a medium bowl.

2. Combine Alfredo sauce and vegetable broth. Spoon one-third of alfredo sauce mixture (about 1/2 cup) into a lightly greased 2.2-qt. or 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Top with half of spinach mixture. Arrange half of ravioli in a single layer over spinach mixture. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining Alfredo sauce.

3. Bake at 375° for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake 5 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Garnish, if desired.

*Chicken broth may be substituted.

I also used a little fresh parmesan on the top and turned on the broiler for just a minute to give it a touch of color.

A Lazy Saturday

This weekend was great! I started the weekend with sleeping in (one of my favorite things!). Then I went for a run, still loving the falling leaves. The afternoon consisted of taking a walk with the kids and Daisy and hanging out on the porch. The weather was perfect for an afternoon on the porch swing. I read a magazine, Claire played her DS and played with T-Bone and Koshka (our porch cats). Dane was in and out. His Bionicles are best played with in his room where he has THOUSANDS of pieces.
Saturday evening, the kids and I went to see "The Music Man" at Weatherford College. They did a fabulous job! The kids laughed at all the right places and enjoyed themselves. I refrained from singing along, which I'm sure the people in front of us were thankful for. When I was in high school, I played the violin in the pit orchestra for our presentation of the same musical. But...I did want to blurt out Shipoopi!! They performed to a full house, not an empty chair in the whole place. And, it was even free! We will definitely be checking out the college calendar for other events. It was a great way for the kids to be exposed to a little "culture!" Dane spotted a schedule on the back of the program. They are having an Art Exhibit in a couple of weeks that he wants to go to. Just a little reminder that there are cultural events outside Bass Hall and other prestigious venues...

Fall is Here

When I ran this morning, it was wonderful to see the leaves falling. I like the crunch of the leaves between my shoe and the pavement. This is my favorite time of year by far. I love the crisp mornings and evenings (even if it does get up to 75 during the day - it is still TX!).

Thinking of fall, it makes me think of comfort food...like homemade biscuits. Yumm. This is my mother-in-law's (Anne Rasmussen)famous biscuit recipe, perfect for every biscuit occasion. Here are a few ways my family eats them... hot out of the oven with honey or jelly, on top of chicken pot pie, underneath cream gravy for breakfast, underneath creamed tuna (Dan's favorite), or with grated cheese and garlic mixed in topped with melted butter (like Red Lobster). You can make them on a moments notice, because who doesn't have these ingredients in their pantry all the time.

This is a picture of my in-laws, Tom & Anne Rasmussen. She isn't making biscuits, but she is cooking. (They are making lefse, a Norwegian favorite)


Stir & Roll Biscuits
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup oil
2/3 cup milk

Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add oil and milk and stir until a ball forms. Knead lightly and pat onto a lightly floured surface. Cut with a small glass. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet. Makes 10-12.

First POST ever!!

Well...I didn't ever think I would go into the blog world, but here I am. No making fun, because I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing!

Creative Nest was 'hatched' out of my businesses Creative CAKES and Creative Memories. I also think of myself as a creative person and love to cook, entertain, decorate and do crafts.

I'll try to post pics of crafts, scrapbook pages, etc. and write some of my favorite recipes.

Check back often to see what's happening in the Nest!