Happy Tuesday, everyone. Mindy here, still recovering from a WONDERFUL ACFW Conference last week. Yes, I'm still reeling a bit, a little bleary-eyed. The last thing I wanted to do last night was fix a big dinner. But, they were happy with grilled cheese on rye.
Me, on the other hand...I wanted something a bit healthier, but definitely quick and easy. So I decided to make myself a nice Caprese salad.
First, I needed some yummy tomatoes. I love these little campari tomatoes. Very tasty.
I chopped three or four and tossed them together with some cubed fresh mozzarella. Fresh mozzarella is the kind that comes in a ball, not a brick. Very soft with a mild flavor.
Then I added some chopped basil, a bit of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and some fresh ground pepper. Toss it all up and call it dinner.
Light, refreshing, and oh so yummy.
Now if you're thinking this sounds like my bruschetta recipe from a while back, you'd be correct. I just used bigger chunks, omitted the bread crisps, and put it in a bowl.
Okay now, per Tina R., I'm putting butt in chair :-)
What do you like when you're fixin' just for you?
Oh, yummy! This looks super tasty.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm left to my own devices, I love toast with cheese. not melted on the toast, but sliced and eaten with toast. Maybe some salami. Not that we ever have any. :D But, we're dreaming, right?
And grilled cheese on rye is cooking to me! I call cereal and milk not cooking.
Hi Mindy,
ReplyDeleteIt was such fun to watch the awards ceremony online. Did you see us waving to you? :)
I love your salad. My go to meal is something like this, but I mix in greens and garlic and saute the whole mess in a little olive oil. Then I add the cheese when it's hot so it's sort of gooey and delicious.
Mary, I wish y'all could have been there. But I thought I saw something in my periphery.
DeleteYour version of my salad sounds really good. Especially the gooey part. Yum.
These both sound yummy. Mindy, I make this for myself when everyone else gets to eat carbs... The tomatoes have some but I trade off for the veggie goodness of them! And tomato and mozzarella is just wonderful stuff.
DeleteAnd it looks cheerful. I like cheerful looking food.
Virginia, I love bread/crackers and cheese. Different kinds of cheeses. Throw in some grapes and call it dinner. Sigh. Okay, now I'm hungry.
ReplyDeleteThis looks so yummy - except for the tomatoes. I need to find a substitute, because the mozzarella cheese with the oil and herbs is SO good. Let's see...artichokes would be good with it, or olives, or salami cut in chunks...and then fruit on the side...and bread. Some fresh Italian bread or a French baguette.
ReplyDeleteBut when it's just me and I haven't made a trip to the store? Some cheese, maybe some turkey or ham if there's any around, an apple, some crackers....
Or I'll scramble some eggs, add onions, spinach and cheese.
Or if I'm in need of some comfort food, I'll heat up some chicken broth. That'll warm me down to my toes :)
And Mindy, it was SO great meeting you last weekend! I'm still smiling!
Yes, Jan, I was thrilled to finally meet you and hug your neck. What a fun week it was. Too short though.
DeleteNot a tomato fan, huh? I wasn't either until recently. I do love these little camparis though.
I always buy the compari. Love them! Although mine don't say "sinfully sweet" so I'm afraid I'm missing out. ;)
DeleteSinfully sweet... isn't that music to our ears????
DeleteI would love to come to Indy next year... But it was just delightful, Mindy O to see you on stage, how gracious and lovely you are in front of a large crowd and how beautifully you handled those awards. Thank you so much for all you do. We are blessed to have people like you in ACFW!
Yes, I love that they have the live video. Makes you feel like you're there. Of course, I haven't see myself. It's always an exercise in just how far I can get my foot in my mouth. You know, that really hurts with heels :-)
DeleteYummy, Mindy!! I would love this but have never tried it. Must do so soon!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm alone, I do what Virginia called no cooking: cereal and milk! :) Or sometimes I'll do a frozen Lean Cuisine dinner. Something easy!
I used to do the cereal and milk thing a lot, but not so much lately. I guess I'd rather have something more exciting nowadays. Whatever that may be.
DeleteGood to see you too, Missy. You're looking great.
yum! hmm I'm always fixin' just for myself so hard to say! I tried copying a local restaurant's Italian Market Salad - it has romaine lettuce, the fresh mozarella like you used, fontina I think, cucumber, tomatoe, arthichokes, roasted bell pepper, pepperoncino peppers, parmesan, salami..hmm probably forgetting something! - and a balsamic vinagrette dressing. I love it with toasted bread - forgot what kind of bread I bought but it was the bakery stuff not that diet stuff I usually buy! gosh I may have to get the ingredients and make this!
ReplyDeleteSusanna
Susanna, if I'd have had a nice warm loaf of French bread, my meal would have reached perfection :-)
Deleteyum french bread! :-) now I'm craving bread...
DeleteSusanna
Definitely looks yummy and healthy! And very simple. I like that. Though our fresh tomatoes won't be in season for much longer up here. We're getting close to frosty at nights now.
ReplyDeleteLove hearing all the snippets of Conference talk on the blogs. I can't get enough of it. Maybe next year!
I hope so, Kav. I'd love to hug your neck too.
DeleteThat looks fantastic! I came home to comfort food--my culinary arts son fixed his mama's favorite baked mac & cheese.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm on my own, one of my favorites is my homemade chicken salad on sandwich thins. My men consider it "chick food."
That's exactly it, Lisa. Chick food. Those things we love that our men could never imagine WANTING to eat. You should have seen the look my husband gave me when I offered to fix him some.
DeleteWhat a blessing to have a culinary arts boy. Sigh. That would just make my day.
I love chicken salad, Lisa. I usually add in some tarragon. It gives it a nice boost. I also love to add apples and walnuts.
DeleteSusanna, you have me hungry for homemade bread!
ReplyDeleteKav, I sure hope to meet you in person sometime!
Lisa, thanks for stopping by! I'm with you on the chicken salad and sandwich thins. I made chicken salad a while back and NO ONE but me ate it! Plus, I'm the only one in the family who'll eat my wonderful sandwich thins. :)
Same here on the sandwich thins. But, considering they cost more, I figure it's just as well they not like them. They'd never be there when I wanted them if they did.
DeleteMy 6'3" 200 lb giant son loves my chicken salad. I used to make it for the bridal store (Luke and Beth worked on the tuxedo side of the store) and I'd take it in for the troops. So some guys appreciate the beauty of good ol' chicken salad!
DeleteLisa, congrats to you! And isn't that banquet/awards gala beautifully done? Kudos to the many workers and planners that make that whole thing so doggone special!
OH! And congratulations on the Carol Award, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteDo you know how hard it was to keep that secret from her? :-)
DeleteOh, I can't imagine. You have grace and aplomb, M.O. Wonderful combo!
DeleteThank you, Ruthy. You are too kind.
DeleteYou know, I've never watched an award show that made me cry... but that one did. It was amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Lisa!