Everything A Sunday Should Be

Wonderfully lazy, filled with food, family, food, laughter, and more food.

Breakfast Berry Bruschetta

1/2 of a baguette
aprox. 1 cup mascarpone cheese
4 or 5 TBS good local honey
1 1/2 cups assorted berries
butter for toasting

-slice the baguette on the diagonal, lightly butter, and toast under the oven broiler
-mix together the cheese and honey and spread on the toast
-distribute the berries and eat up!

*this can be done many different ways, with cream cheese, greek yogurt, or even a mild goat cheese with a fig jam (delicious).



Lunch Easiest Ever Pizza

1/2 of a baguette
fresh mozzarella cheese
1/2 of a red onion, sliced
red bell pepper, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
jarred marinara sauce (Newman's Own is my personal favorite - it is inexpensive and works in a pinch)
olive oil

-preheat the oven to 450 degrees
-slice the baguette in half lengthwise, then slice into 4 large pieces and place on a baking sheet
-drizzle with some olive oil and very lightly toast
-take out of the oven, then smother on the sauce, the cheese, and the onions, peppers, and garlic and bake until bubbly, 7 to 10 minutes



Dinner Chicken Marsala with Roasted Mushrooms and Shallots

4 chicken cutlets
3 TBS dijon mustard
8 oz sliced mushrooms
5 or so shallots, chopped into large chunks
6 TBS plus 3 TBS olive oil (divided use)
2 TBS balsamic vinegar
1 TBS butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups Marsala wine (dry or sweet will work, I use dry)
1 cup cream
chopped parsley for garnish

-preheat the oven to 400 degrees
-place the mushrooms and shallots on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with the 6 TBS olive oil and balsamic vinegar, toss, and roast for 30 minutes, tossing midway through
-place the flour, salt, and pepper on a large plate, and rub the dijon mustard onto the chicken breasts
-heat a large saute pan over medium high and add the remaining 2 TBS olive oil and butter
-dredge the chicken breasts in the flour mixture and then cook in the pan for 3 or 4 minutes per side
-remove the chicken, add the Marsala, reduce by about half, add the cream and cook for about 3 minutes (be sure to scrape all of the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan)
-place the chicken back in the pan and let cook another couple of minutes before serving with the roasted mushrooms and shallots

This is great served with some cappelini pasta tossed with some olive oil, butter, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.



Dessert Chocolate Zabaglione

1/4 cup whipped cream
1/2 semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup dry Marsala
8 large egg yolks
pinch of salt

-in a small heavy saucepan heat the cream to a simmer over medium high heat, remove from heat, and stir in the chocolate chips until melted and smoth
-set a large bowl over a pot of simmering water and whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, marsala, and salt until think and creamy and registers 160 degrees (about 4 to 6 minutes)
-remove from heat and fold in chocolate mixture
-serve as a warm sauce over berries or refrigerate for several hours to create more of a pudding



For Tomorrow Peachy Pops

1 lb peaches (about 3 large), chopped
3/4 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup water
2 TBS Amaretto (optional)

-put the sugar in a blender and pulse until it is superfine
-place all other ingredients in the blender and pulse until smooth
-place into popsicle molds and freeze (using a funnel makes this MUCH easier)






Midnight Snack Better Than Betty's Brownies


1 stick unsalted butter
6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

-preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 10x7 brownie pan or small square pan
-place the butter and chocolate in a small pan and melt over low heat
-in a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt
-in a large bowl whisk together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well combined, then add the chocolate mixture
-whisk in the flour mixture until just combined and make for 35 minutes