René's Caprese Salad

I LOVE caprese salad.  I could live on fresh tomatoes and basil.  Adding mozzerella and balsamic just makes it that much better.

We were fixing dinner for my husband's parents and I wanted to take advantage of the current crop of tomatoes. Caprese salad doesn't really require a recipe but I want to write down what I did because it was a bit different.  I made a dressing the day before and let it chill so all of the flavors blended together.


 

Ingredients:

Dressing:

1/2 c chopped fresh basil

1/4 c olive oil

1/4 c balsamic vinegar

1 T fresh garlic

1/2 c chopped red onion

1/2 c chopped white onion

Salt

Pepper

Place all ingredients in blender and pureé.  Adjust quantities according to taste.  Chill overnight.

Salad:

4 or 5 fresh tomatoes, sliced

1/2 red onion, sliced thinly

1/4 to 1/2 fresh basil

4 to 8 oz mozzerella (whole milk kind is best)

balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper

Spread dressing on bottom of serving plate.  Arrange tomatoe slices, onion slices and mozzerella over dressing, using one onion and cheese to every three tomatoe slices.

Spread basil on top of tomato/onion/mozzerella.  Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar.  Season with salt and pepper.

Chill at least one our before serving.

This was very tasty.  The tomatoes made the dressing a little runny by the time I served it, but it didn't really seem to matter.  This recipe can be adapted to take advantage of your favorite ingredients.

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos

Yikes!  I can't believe I haven't posted anything since April.  I guess that's because we spent the spring and half the summer moving.  But, I have started cooking again so it's time to write!

I got this recipe from a co-worker and have modified it by adding the bacon.  They are awesome!


1 lb Sausage  (I either use hot sausage or add red pepper flakes)
8 oz cream cheese

4 oz grated parmesan

24 jalapenos

Enough bacon to wrap all of the jalapenos  (1/2 slice per jalapeno half)



Brown sausage.  Drain grease and cool

Mix sausage with cream cheese and parmesan

Remove stem and seeds and cut jalapenos in half and fill with sausage mixture.  Wrap jalapenos tightly with 1/2 slice bacon.

Bake at 350 for 20 to 30 minutes -- until bacon is fairly crispy.





Pre heat oven to 400 degrees



Bake stuffed jalapenos for 10 – 15 minutes