Bruschetta Fresca

Try this easy to prepare bruschetta for your next event. It's beautiful, fresh, and very tasty.

Ingredients

10 Roma tomatoes, chopped small
1 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves, torn up small
3 cloves garlic, minced tiny
3 oz. feta cheese, crumbled (we like the Mediterranean-spiced ones)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 T. olive oil

Mix all together and let sit for 1 hour or overnight

Serving options:
Cool - serve on the side with French bread rounds
Warm - top toasted bread rounds with bruschetta, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on each top, and an individual drizzle of olive oil and set under broiler for 1 minute, or until cheese is melted and golden.

Fresco e bello: This entire appetizer is simply fresh and beautiful...a great choice for unexpected company or a planned get-together or just to bless the family that you love.

(Roo just climbed up in my lap to tell me he loves me...my heart is full.)

Mama K's Kitchen Quandrary and Meatball Tortellini Soup

Mama K's Pet Peeve: People who are listed as speakers on a given subject or at a given time who stand at the microphone and say with a nervous chuckle, "I really don't know what I'm going to say!" and then hope that everyone in attendance will show them respect and an eager ear!

Grrrr.

What does this have to do with Mama K's Kitchen site? Only that I have a very good excuse for not posting, and that I'm not going to fill up precious reading time on your part with twaddle.

I'm pregnant, things taste odd, I don't have the energy to cook much, and the girls have taken over most of the kitchen. It has mainly become Sisters Kei and Bep's Kitchen. If, however, they come up with a recipe that is delicious, I will definitely post it!

Just one note, however, with a culinary bent: If you take Grocery Day Souper Soup and follow these alterations, you'll have another version of soup that is different and yummy!

In oven, heat up enough pre-cooked meatballs to add to a soup (make your own or use pre-made or frozen from the store, but make sure you're comfortable with the ingredients). Take your beef or chicken broth, add chopped onion, minced zucchini (or the veggie of the night that you want to sneak in!), and finely chopped garlic (I use at least a clove or two). Bring to a boil, add 1 package of ready-to-cook fresh tortellini. When it returns to a good boil, add meatballs to the soup, continue to heat until pasta is done, and you've got an easy to serve soup for the fam.

Fresco e bello: We served this recently at our friends' home with whole wheat rolls and Caesar salad. It was a hit, and so easy to do. This is easy to multiply or reduce, depending on your crowd!

Yummy Turkey Chili

Oh, we are just loving that crisp feeling in the air with autumn on it's way. Our entire family rejoices in the cooler weather that is heading our way. We are all about fall. We love warming by the woodstove, playing in rain puddles, candlelight, and wearing sweaters. It is truly our favorite season.

So it's time to break out the crock-pot, and get some of those comfort food recipes going! And here's what's percolating in the ole' pot, ready for dinner tomorrow: Engstrom Turkey Chili. (*Do you hear the happy sighs all around?*)

Fills one large crock-pot (enough to freeze some for later, if we don't eat it all)

• In a large saucepan (we use our electric skillet), brown 3 pounds ground turkey with one chopped onion and 5 cloves of garlic, pressed or chopped.

Drain and place in crock-pot.

• Add 5 cans of beans (your choice...tonight we're using black beans, kidney beans, and Texas beans), 4 chopped fresh tomatoes (or 2 cans chopped tomatoes), and 1 can tomato paste.

Then add your spices:

• 3 T Chili powder (more if you like more)
• 1 t. Oregano
• 2 t. Ground cumin
• (Optional ingredient to try: 1 package hot cocoa mix...just try it!)

Mix well, and set on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Fresco e bello ~ delicious, warming chili is best served with plenty of fun toppings. Some of our favorites are grated cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, and sliced avocados. Also, for a crowd we love to serve it Cincinnati-style - on top of a happy bed of cooked spaghetti...yum.