Honey Roasted Tomato Bruschetta

The other night our lovely neighbors had us over to their house for dinner. My husband and I scrambled around a bit coming up with something we could cook on the fly as a starter. I think our powers combined to make a fantastic dish! I've made it several times since and cannot get enough of the sweetness of the honey and the tartness of the tomato and goat cheese. It's definitely one for the rotation!

Honey Roasted Tomato Bruschetta

Ingredients:

1Tablespoon of Honey

1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Oregano

3 Pinches of Salt

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

2 Cups of Cherry Tomatoes

2 Cloves of Garlic

4 Tablespoons of Chevre (Creamy Goat Cheese)

2 Slices of Toast

Cooking:

Place your tomatoes on a cookie sheet with one of the cloves of garlic. Drizzle first the honey, then the olive oil over the tomatoes. Add the seasonings. Toss to coat the tomatoes evenly. Place the pan into the oven on broil. Watch the tomatoes carefully. You want a bit of char, but obviously, don't want them burned. Once they start to char a bit on the top and seem to be releasing the juices (this probably only will take a couple of minutes, depending on how hot your oven.) Give the tomatoes a stir, trying to get the non-charred side to the top and place back in the oven to finish cooking both sides. Take the tomatoes out and set aside. I don't own a toaster, so I toast my bread in the oven. After the bread is toasted, rub the top of the toast with the remaining garlic clove. This just gives the essence of garlic, without overwhelming the dish. Next spread each toast with 2 tablespoons of Chevre, then top with your tomatoes and drizzle some juice on top. Serve and enjoy!

Zesty Marinated Olives

Olives are one of my favorite foods and this has become one of my go to dishes for a quick and easy get-together. I love how fast it is to make, but also love that it looks a little fancy (at fancy, read: tongue in cheek.)

Zesty Marinated Olives

Ingredients:

2 Cups of Mixed Olives

4 Pieces of Lemon Zest

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

1 Teaspoon of Chili Flakes

1 Clove of Garlic, Very Thinly Sliced (Think Goodfellas)

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients together and let sit at room temperature for 30 min to 1 hour before serving. So easy!

Summery Grilled White Fish Packets

I love breaking this recipe out at the start of summer when the fresh heirloom tomatoes start coming off the vine. The citrusy lemon with the tangy tomatoes and flaky fish are so aromatic! It's always a crowd pleaser and it's so simple to put together! Though still a little early yet for summer heat, with sunny spring weather rolling in, it's delightful!

Tomato, Lemon and White Fish Packets for the Grill (or Oven)

Ingredients:

2 Fillets of Tilapia (or other white fish of choice! I have made this with Mahi-Mahi with equally delicious results)
1/2 Lemon, Sliced into Wedges
1 Cup of Cherry Tomatoes, Split
8 Leaves of Basil
2 Cloves of Garlic, Peeled
2 Green Onions, Chopped
Salt and Pepper

Tools:
Aluminum Foil (or Parchment Paper in the Oven)

Cooking:
Lay out a 12" square piece of aluminum foil. Place your Tilapia right below the centerline of the foil. Salt and Pepper your fillet. Lay the basil leaves on top, and add one or two wedges of lemon. Add in half of the tomatoes and green onions, and one of the cloves of garlic. Fold the foil over the fish and vegetables, and begin at the left or right side, fold over the edges continuously until you make your way to the other side and the packet is completely sealed. Ideally, you want a bit of air in your packet, to allow the steam to cook the fish. Repeat with other fillet. Place the packet on a hot grill, or an oven at 350 degrees, for approximately 10 minutes. Open the packet and serve!