Yum!

Some things you make and they make you go yum! 

I've done it before and I don't know why I haven't done it often but the other day I made hummus.  So easy and so up on the yum factor!  And tahini!....oh man... it's like I just discovered gold.... where have you been all my life? ! That is good stuff and I expect to use it more frequently! 

Roasted tomato pesto is the newest yum to pass through my lips.   The original recipe from Oh She Glows uses plum tomatoes but I just happened to have a wee shy of two pints of grape tomatoes so I decided to use them.  This is good stuff!  Highly recommended!

And as I write this I think... What if pesto met hummus? !  Hmm. ..I think I may have to venture back into the kitchen now! 

The recipes I used for guidance are:

http://ohsheglows.com/2011/09/06/roasted-tomato-basil-pesto/

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-easy-hummus-from-scratch-107560

Hummus...Yummus!

Getting ready for the oven!

Little roasted beauties!

Roasted tomato and basil pesto

Messy plate but I couldn't wait to eat!!

Chicken

What to do with chicken?  Isn't that always the question?  We eat a lot of chicken so I try to find ways to make it different yet tasty.

The other day someone mentioned to me melting boursin cheese atop a filet. That got me thinking that I could do the same but with chicken!  And goat cheese! 

I had also picked up some marinated green olives from the olive bar at the grocery store and thought the cheese and olives would go good together.  I had a tomato near by and thought what the heck!.... added that too!

The finished product. .. grilled chicken with garlic and herb goat cheese melted on top then topped with diced tomato and marinated green olives.  I did cook the tomatoes and olives together for a few minutes to release and juices but not long enough to cook down the tomatoes.

(Are they boxed hash browns on the plate as well! ! Horrors!!!)

Tomato pie

While surfing the net the other day, I came across this recipe for tomato pie. What luck as I still had a few tomatoes left from Tim, and I came across a roadside stand where I got a few yellow and orange tomatoes. I had high hopes for this and it did not disappoint!
The recipe really is easy and comes together in no time. Don't rush to cut it after it bakes, it really needs to set up and firm up a bit.
It would make a great light dinner with a side salad, our even a lunch or brunch.  I had the leftovers for breakfast and the only bad part was when it was gone! For dinner, we had salad and grilled chicken with it.
This was delicious! The basil! The cheese! The tomatoes! Luckily, the pre-made crusts I bought come 2 to a package so I wil be making this again and soon!
Tide and Thyme » Tomato Pie

The lovely tomatoes before making their way into the pie....

YUM!

Still working on those tomatoes!

Some days, I don't even know what I'm going to make for dinner. Sure, I have an idea if it's going to be chicken or turkey (no beef here), but what I'm going to do with it is another question!

While at work today thinking about the chicken breasts I took out of the freezer, my mind went back to those tomatoes. Then I thought about my basil, then I remembered I bought fresh mozzarella....chicken caprese it will be!

I made a tomato salad of tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. It needed a wee bit more of a kick, so a sprinkle of garlic powder, and a dash each of oregano and pepper flanks and viola! Instant yum!

Grilled up the chicken along with some zucchini and onions for a side.
Served the chicken them with a generous serving of the tomato salad mixture and happiness followed.

When life hands you....

Tomatoes!!
If you're like me, you don't have a yard big enough for a huge garden. And if you're lucky enough to have a friend that does, then you really are lucky!
Thanks to  one of my besties Tim over here at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Happy-chicken-hill/324894087597898, I now have a plethora of tomatoes....and I feel like I have been using them and using them and I never have less!...magical tomatoes?!
Following are my attempts, delicious ones at that!, at cooking my way through the tomatoes....
Tomato and mozzarella salad
Tomato soup
Tomato salad over toast (breakfast!)
Bruschetta omelet