DELICIOUS Cheesy Garlic Bread!

Tags

bread, breadsticks, cheese, garlic, Italian, mozzarella, parmesan

To me there is nothing better than decadently cheesy garlic bread. When I was in college, I would order Domino’s cheesy bread on particularly bad weeks. Talk about the ultimate comfort food. This recipe is super easy to make and definately satisfying!

Cheesy Garlic Bread

• 1 (10 oz) tube of prepared pizza crust
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1/8 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley garnish, if desired

Spread the pizza crust evenly on a pizza pan or stone. In a bowl, combine the butter, garlic, dried herbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Spread over the crust evenly. Top with cheeses. Bake at 425 degrees for approx 20 minutes or until the cheese is melty and very lightly browned. Cut into rectangle breadsticks. Makes 12 breadsticks.

 

Marinated Mini Mozzarella Balls

Tags

food, fresh, gluten free, herbs, mozzarella, salad, tomatoes, vegetarian

I love this salad. It is fresh, very flavorful, and easy to throw together. I have eaten it several times this summer. I will be sad to see the tomato season end.

Marinated Mini Mozzarella Balls

• 1 lb fresh mini-mozzarella balls, drained and halved
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbs fresh parsley, oregano, basil
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (or chopped regular tomatoes)
• 3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, microplaned
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients. Allow to sit for an hour or so at room temperature before serving. This allows the flavors to meld. Serves 2 large or 4 small servings.

Meatball Subs

Tags

cheese, food, Italian, meatball, mozzarella, sandwich, sub

Maybe there is no actual place called hell. Maybe hell is just having to listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they’re eating sandwiches. ~Jim Carrey

Who doesn’t love cheesy, meaty goodness? I love making these sandwiches because they are so quick to throw together and can be made any time. If you want dinner at  5 and the hubby can’t eat until 8, it will still be delicious (maybe more so- I think time improves spaghetti sauce).

Meatball Subs

• 1 batch of Grammy’s Spicy Spaghetti sauce and meatballs
• 1 loaf Italian bread
• Slices or shredded mozzarella cheese

Split the loaf of bread horizontally. Top the bottom half with the meatballs and sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with second half of bread. Cut into sections. Enjoy!!!!

Mozzarella Stuffed Buns

Tags

baking, bread, buns, cheese, food, mozzarella, yeast

Bread and cheese are two of the best things in the food world. Combined them together and you have perfection.

Mozzarella Stuffed Buns (a variation of this recipe)

• 1 cup warm water (not too hot or it will kill the yeast)
• 2 tbsp yeast
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 8 oz of mozzarella cheese in 1 inch cubes
• Melted garlic herb butter

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Mix together the yeast and water and let it sit for a couple minutes to proof. In your mixer bowl, combine the sugar, garlic powder, melted butter, and oil. Add the flour a little and a time, mixing in your stand mixer with a dough hook. Add the salt. Knead for 10 minutes, in the stand mixer. Let the dough rise in a greased bowl for 30 minutes.

Turn the dough onto a floured counter top and kneed until smooth and not too sticky, about 5 times. Divide the dough into 15 to 20 pieces, depending on how large you want the buns. Place a chunk of cheese in the center of each one, making sure to pinch the edges together to completely cover the cheese. Place seam side down onto a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle the buns with more cheese and top with some melted garlic herb butter. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Makes approx 20 buns.

Insalata Caprese

Tags

appetizer, balsamic vinegar, basil, Dinner, Italian, mozzarella, salad, Supper

The perfect summer time salad/appetizer. All the ingredients are in abundance this time of year and meld together perfectly. The classic salad consists of only 6 ingredients but does not include balsamic vinegar- one of the ingredients that most people associate with the salad. Other variations include this vinegar as well as sweet or red onions.  Below is the most traditional recipe but if you like the vinegar or onions then you should use them.

• 8 ripe tomatoes, sliced
• 1 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt, preferably sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

On a platter, alternate slices of tomato and mozzarella. Garnish generously with basil leaves, tucking some underneath the tomatoes. Drizzle the olive oil over all, and then sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Serve immediately. Serves 6.