Summer, Rolled Up

Caprese Pull.-Apart Bread

 

Matt & Alex love caprese. I mean, loooove it.

 

We caprese sandwiches, pasta, everything. That combo of tomato, fresh mozzarella & basil not only taste amazing, but they pretty much scream 'Summer!' with every bite (not in a creepy, sentient way).

Early last week, I saw a recipe for Caprese Pull-Apart Bread, so yeah.  That was happening.

Nothing out of the ordinary - a nice, pliant dough, topped with glorious flavors (...I forgot to add the garlic butter first, so that went on once the bread was formed), cut into slices, stacked in a pan & baked. 

Smells fantastic, tastes even better.

 

Blog Party #45: 20th Anniversary Party!

Fried Gnocchi Bites with Marinara

 

Welcome back to the original online cocktail event - Blog Party!

It's been a few years, I know.  Life, eh?

 But I'm happy you're here - I've missed you!

 

I've embraced the 'china/platinum/emerald' theme of 20th anniversaries (ok, sure; that's for weddings, but I don't think there's blog gift etiquette lists out there), & hung these gorgeous strings of lights around the dining room.

 

The tables have been set with platinum cloths and platinum-trimmed emerald plates.

 

 And the jazzy sounds of the greatest hits of the (19)20's are playing!

 

Of course, there's plenty to eat.

Bites of fresh gnocchi rolled in seasoned breadcrumbs, fried & served with marinara sauce.

Astoundingly good caprese poppers: cherry tomatoes cored & stuffed with mozzarella pearls, coated in panko & fried, then drizzled with a honey-balsamic reduction.  

Little pizza bites: 3-day fermented crust topped with Fromage d'Affinois & roasted garlic, thin slices of potato, a sprinkling of smoked mozzarella, & rosemary. 

And to balance all the richness, the Paloma. Sweet & tart grapefruit & lemon juices, simple syrup, & club soda with a salted rim.

Caprese Bites

Roasted Garlic-Fromage Potato Pizza

 

Paloma

 

 

It was fun having you here after all this time.  Twenty years!  

Hopefully, it won't be another two decades until the next Blog Party...

Game Day Eats - Take Two

Snickerdoodle Blondies

 

 

 

With the holiday weekend, and Matt's friend(s) still in town, there was time for more gaming.

More gaming meant more gaming food.

Rosemary-Garlic Focaccia Caprese Bites

Yesterday, I made the focaccia I talked about in this post, and topped cut squares with slices of tomato (helped along with some sugar and salt, as they were not the best), fresh mozzarella, and dabs of pesto.

There was a roasted garlic dip (not pictured) with lots of fresh veggies, and Snickerdoodle Blondies. Stupidly easy to make, but my guys love Snickerdoodles.

Games were played. Food was eaten.  My geeks were happy.