Quick & Easy From Lexi

Prosciutto wrapped melon.

This is an Italian clasic it is sweet and savory all at the same time. Simple go tot he deli at the store and ask for a few pieces of thinnly sliced prosciutto (itallian salty aged lunch meat essentially only way better). Pick out a nice ripe melon. Dice and wrap small pieces of the prociutto around. Secure in place with a tooth pick or wrap and pop directly into mouth.


Italian grilled cheese

Foccia, farmers bread, regular bread or any day old bread at the store. Slice into pieces.
Add pesto (recipe in an earlier post of mine :-) to one side as a condoment.
Add slices of mozarella cheese.
(Optional) add a fresh slice of tomato or a few sun dried tomatoes.
Place under the broiler until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melty. If you have a really goo broiler then toast the bread first then add the topings and place back in for a few more seconds to melt the cheese without burning.
Eat warm and enjoy. To make a full meal add tomato soup, or a vegetable soup.


French Mac 'n' Cheese

2 pads butter
1-2 tbl flour
1/4 cup white wine (chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, or a dry pinot grigio)
1/4 cup reduced or sodium free chicken stock
1/4 cup cream
white cheddar cheese shredded
1/4 pkg of cream cheese
optional - dash of taragon
Pasta of your choice cooked per box instructions.

Make a traditional rue in the pan, add in the wine and chicken stock and reduce down to make a nice thick syrup (add taragon here if you are using it). Add cream and stir until it coats the back of the spoon , add cheese and stir in using figure 8 motion to prevent clumps. Add in pasta and stir to coat. Serve immediatly.


Fritata

1 runded loaf of bread (easter bread/wide loaf baggette/etc)
3 eggs
1 1/2 -2 cups cream
handfull finely chopped bell peppers
handfull cooked and diced breakfast sausage
frech diced tomatoes
diced asparagus
your choice of cheese (sharp cheddar shredded, mild cream cheese broken into clumps, etc)
S&P

Cut a hole out of top of bread and gut as if you were making a bread bowl for soup.
Combine all other ingred in a bowl and mix fully.
Pour egg, veggie and cheese mixture into bread bowl.
Place in 350 degree oven and bake for 25-30 min or until eggs are cooked through and firm (but not rubbery!)

Use bread inners for a side or toss in olive oil and your favorite spices, throw into the oven on a cookie sheet and make home made croutons for a salad!


Grilled PB&J

Make your standard PB&J sandwhich. Then either place in a toaster oven or grill in a pan like a grilled cheese sandwhich. The end result is a warm toasty sandwhich that is almost as good as desert! - The kids love this one!
- You can also do with peanut butter and banana sandwhiches for the kids!