The BEST Bruschetta!!

Fail-proof recipe! I absolutely love this, I serve with fresh sliced mozzarella and crustinis.  My little girl loves the tomatoes and fresh cheese and will eat them as a snack.

RECIPE:

3 Diced Roma Tomatoes
1 Diced Small Red Onion
2 Minced Garlic Cloves
3 TBS Shaved Parmesan Cheese
2 TBS Olive Oil
1/4 Cups Balsamic Vinegar
Chopped Fresh Basil (to taste)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Mix all together and enjoy! It's best if you make and let it sit for an hour or two.

Roasted Tomato, Red Pepper & Basil Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons

This is actually a fairly easy recipe, but will impress!

For the soup, you can simply make your favorite canned tomato soup or use the following recipe. If making canned soup, simply use milk/cream instead of water and add some pureed roasted red peppers and basil!


RECIPE:

3 Roasted Tomatoes (to roast, toss in sugar, salt, pepper, oil, and balsamic vinegar. Bake in oven until they start to brown and skins split)
3 Roasted Red Peppers (use above tomato method to roast)
2 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1 Can Chicken Broth

Puree the above ingredients. Then add the following:

1 Quart Heavy Cream
1 Can Diced Tomatoes
V8 Tomato Juice (add to create desired thickness)
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
Basil (dried or fresh, to taste)

That's it! Now, onto the croutons:

Make a grilled cheese as normal. After cooking, put into the freezer! Once it's almost frozen, remove and dice the grilled cheese. Toss in some melted butter and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. Stir 1/2 way through. Make sure you spray/line your pan. The cheese sticks!

ENJOY!

Wooden Crate Shelf DIY

This is a super easy shelf for kids! Total cost was about $50! Crates can be purchased at Home Depot for just under $8/each. 

What you'll need:

• 4 wooden crates
• 2 cans of spray paint, your choice of color(s) (optional)
• 2 cans stain color (optional, if not painting or if natural wood isn't desired)
• 2 can polyurethane
• 1 sponge brush
• 1 steel wool pad
• 1 roll painters tape
• 1 pkg particle board nails 
• Hammer 

*Not all items pictured

Step 1: Using the painters tape, tape the open slots of the crates and edges of the areas you do not wish to have painted. Don't for get the handle slots! 

Step 2: Spray paint! Some colors may need two coats.

Step 3: Once dry, remove tape. position crates in desired pattern. Recommended: two horizontal crates in the middle and one vertical on each end.  Starting with the center crates, nail together. Use three or four nails in each wooden panel. 

Step 4: Nail end crates to center crates. Again, three or four nails in each wooden panel. 

Step 5: Polyurethane entire shelf. If you wish to use stain to darken the wood color, stain first. Dry. Then polyurethane. 

Step 6: Use steel wool and gently rub over the unpainted areas of the shelf that have been polyurethaned. Coat crates with another layer of polyurethane. Repeat until desired shine is reached. 

That's it! Enjoy your shelf! This is a great shelf for kids toys (pictured above). It the perfect size for children, toddlers can easily reach the top! Later, more crates can be added to extend the shelf upwards or outwards!