Slow Roasted Tomatoes

Have you ever tried slow roasting cherry and grape tomatoes?

Oh My Goodness! These roasted tomatoes are the best thing ever!

I couldn't keep myself from just popping them in my mouth and eating almost all of them!  The flavor really intensifies with the slow roasting process and you are just left with a sweet flavorful tomato.  You've got to try them!

*I apologize but I was unable to find the exact recipe I tried in order to give proper dues so if you are that person or you know who it is please leave a comment so I can make sure I add your blog link.

Recipe:

Fresh (like right from your garden) cherry and grape tomatoes

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Pepper

Dried or Fresh Basil (optional)

Parchment Paper

1. Preheat your oven to 225 degrees (yes that low)

2. Cover two cookie sheets with parchment paper. 

3. Start cutting your cherry tomatoes in half and your grape tomatoes in half lenghtwise. (you want to make little cups with your tomatoes to hold all the yummy juices)

 4. Drizzle Olive Oil over your tomatoes.

5. Sprinkle your tomatoes with pepper, sea salt, and basil (you only need a little bit because the flavor is really intense without all the added spices)

6. Pop the trays in the oven for 3 hours!

Once they come out they look all shrived up but taste amazing.  Sadly, I forgot to take some after pictures and then the tomatoes were gone. YUM!  You can definitely eat them whole, mix them with pasta and some veggies, layer them on a toasted chabatta bread with cheese, or even use them on a sandwich.  They are so yummy and good for you too!

If you happen to have some more fresh tomatoes left over why not make my favorite salad with cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, croutons (or crusty bread), and sometimes crumbled feta cheese.  I usually add some sea salt and pepper and a hearty drizzle of a good balsamic vinegar.

If you cut and add the first three ingredients to a bowl with the spices and balsamic vinegar, you can keep it in the fridge for a couple of days and then just add the croutons and cheese when you are ready to eat it.  This is my variation of a panzanella (not sure how to spell that) salad and it is so good.  You can also add some marinated artichoke hearts and kalamata olives too if you like those flavors as well. 

What do you like to do with your fresh tomatoes?

~Katania

Peach Freezer Jelly

I decided I would make some jelly for our family since my son is absolutely obsessed with pb&j and peaches.  So we went peach picking and brought home two huge bags of delicious peaches.

Here's my little helper picking some peaches!

I also picked up Ball Jelly Jars that were freezer safe.  I searched online and came across this recipe from Bunkycooks and figured I would give it a try.  By the way, aren't her pictures gorgeous.  YUM!  Thankfully my Stop and Shop actually carries all the jars and pectin needed to make jelly so I was able to pick up the Ball Instant Fruit Pectin.  This is much different than regular pectin so make sure you get the correct one.  I liked this recipe because it calls for much less sugar than other recipes and because it's a freezer jam it's so easy (no canning) and tastes so fresh.

I have to say that for my first attempt at making jelly,
it was a huge success!

Just look at that jelly, YUM!

As you can tell in the picture, I left my peaches a little bit chunkier just because I like it that way but you can puree yours if you prefer.  I also gave one jar to my parents and they absolutely loved it!

I can't wait to try strawberry and raspberry freezer jams! YUM!

~Katania

Rice Krispie Egg Treats

YUM!  I absolutely love Rice Krispie treats!  I don't really like marshmallows and I definitely don't love Rice Krispies but once you mix them together, well let's just say I don't make them often in my house :).  However, after watching too many commercials showing the treats with the secret stash inside (M&Ms) I decided this was what I was planning to make for the kids on Easter.  Off to the computer I went to get the recipe and was totally psyched when I found this website.

Rice Krispies

They have every recipe using Rice Krispies and they include directions and the nutritional information! (Wahoo, for all those WW fans, by the way one egg is 5 points). 

Here is the recipe I used to create the

Hidden Surprise Easter Egg Rice Krispie Treat.

A side note: I used the regular sized plastic Easter eggs and was able to make many more than 12 eggs.  I also used Jelly beans inside because I could NOT find Easter M&Ms :( but they turned out just as delicious :)

I arranged most of the eggs on my new treat tray from HOMEGOODS!  (Wahoo, another $10 find)  Then I added some Easter candy I had left over to complete the whole look. 

What do you think? 

YUM! Have you tried these eggs yet?

~Katania