Strawberry Bruchetta

To Make:

Strawberry Bruschetta

Ingredients:

2 cups strawberries, hulled and diced

1 tbsp. sugar

1 French baguette, sliced on a bias (it doesn't have to be the demi kind, just fresh!)

goat cheese, or brie, or mascarpone

1 tbsp. olive oil

balsamic vinegar

minced basil leaves

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350, Combine the  strawberries and sugar in a small bowl; toss to combine.  Let the berries macerate for about 30 minutes so that they begin to release their juices.  Spread a layer of one of the brie or goat cheese on top of each baguette slice.  Place the baguettes with the cheese in the oven for 5-7 minutes, Top each slice with spoonfuls of the strawberry mixture.  Drizzle lightly with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Top each slice with the basil leaves and cracked pepper, to taste.  

This is absolutely wonderful for summer! It sounds odd but the flavors really work well together, I do hope you will try it.

Hugs,

Stephenie

Homemade Ranch Dressing

2 cloves of garlic
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (use less table salt)
1 cup mayonnaise (Duke's or Hellman’s preferred)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 to 1/2 cup buttermilk or regular milk, to taste
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 to 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill, more if desired
1/4 teaspoon of pepper, more if desired

Optional ingredients:
cayenne pepper
worcestershire sauce
hot sauce

Directions: With a fork, make a paste with garlic and salt. Mix all other ingredients, adding optional ingredients as you wish, tasting frequently and adjusting seasonings as needed. Chill for a couple of hours before serving, thin with milk or buttermilk if desired.

Our Family's New Blog

Hello. I begin to write this and I have no readers. Oh well, I hope to invite my family and friends so that they may know what is going on in my family's beautiful world. There are four of us, Troy, or as the boy's call him Daddy, then there is me, Stephenie or Mommy. Austin just turned 8 last week and will be entering third grade next month and last but not least is Cody, he's 3 and full of fire!

My boy's are my entire world, I don't know how I lived without them. I always knew I wanted to have kid's early. I always knew I wanted to be a mommy, since I was a little girl and played with my doll's. I wanted to grow up with them, I was 24 when I had Austin and I'm so happy I did.

Every moment with them is amazing! Each day they teach me something about how I should handle life, strange that my boy's can do that. I've learned to appreciate the small things and not take anything for granted. They have made me a better person, I just hope to show them that.

Here is a picture from this passed weekend. The boy's were playing with the neighbors and I caught them, Austin and Cody were being so cute to one another, I love this picture! They are so beautiful.

I'll end here, take care and more to come!

God Bless You!
Stephenie