After spending three months trucking it on your own, you are dying to go home and show everyone how much of an adult you have become! What better way to impress friends, family, and enemies than to cook for them? Here is an entire night’s menu that is super easy to make and sure to impress!
Appetizer – Roasted Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Bruschetta (8 to 10 servings)
What you will need:
5 medium tomatoes
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves
2 Thyme sprigs
1 medium dried bay leaf, crushed
Salt
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces crusty Italian Bread, but into ½ inch thick slices
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into very thin slices
6-8 basil leaves
How to make it:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice off about 1/8 of an inch off the top and bottom of each tomato. Cut open the tomatoes and discard the seeds and pulpy portions inside. You will be left with what looks like petals. Combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 halved garlic cloves, 2 thyme sprigs, 1 crushed bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper in a bowl and coat the tomatoes with it. Spread the tomatoes, cut-side down, on a baking sheet about ½ inch apart. Pour the remaining contents in the bowl over the tomatoes. Roast the tomatoes in the oven until shriveled and dark red (this will take 45-50 minutes). After cooling, remove the garlic cloves, thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Transfer the tomatoes to a cutting board and dice them.
Heat a grill pan to medium high and arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. With 1 tablespoon of olive oil, lightly brush the top of the breads with oil. Flip the bread over and repeat. Generously season one side with salt and pepper. Place the bread on the grill for 2-3 minutes on both sides, or until the bread looks toasted and crisp. While the bread is still warm, divide the mozzarella slices among them and season lightly with salt. Divide the tomatoes evenly as well. Tear the basil leaves into bite-sized pieces, throw over the tomatoes and serve!
[pagebreak]
Entrée- Ginger-Honey Glazed Salmon and Steamed Green Beans (6 servings)
What you will need:
1 pound Fresh green beans
Extra Virgin Olive oil
3 Garlic cloves
Salt
Ground black pepper
2 tablespoons White wine vinegar
3 tablespoons Grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons Chopped fresh parsley
½ cup Orange juice
¼ cup Soy sauce
2 tablespoons Chopped ginger
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon Sesame oil
2 lbs. Salmon (or 6 pieces)
How to make it:
In a small saucepan, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, ginger, honey and sesame oil to a simmer over medium heat for five minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes and then soak the salmon in it. Then, in a large frying pan, heat about 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and cook the fish (cover the pan) for about 3 minutes on each side.
Bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil. You want the level of water to be just below the steamer basket you insert into the saucepan. Add the green beans to the basket and steam until tender, or about 5 minutes. Transfer the beans to a serving bowl and add garlic, salt, pepper, white wine vinegar, Parmesan cheese and olive oil to the mix. Let the beans stand for 10 minutes, garnish with parsley, add to a plate with a salmon fillet and serve!
[pagebreak]
Dessert – Crock Pot Apples
What you will need:
6 large pink apples (sliced into quarters)
1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/3 cup of maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt
¼ cup raisins
Ice cream (optional)
How to make it:
Set a Crock Pot to low heat and place the apples inside. Add all the ingredients to the Crock Pot and mix well. You want to make sure the apples are coated with everything! Cover and let cook for 2 hours on low heat, or until the apples are golden. Optional a la mode: Add a scoop of ice cream to each individual plate for an even richer, more delicious dessert!
There you have it! A great menu to impress everyone from home (including that significant other’s family)!
Sources:
http://www.oprah.com/food/Ginger-Honey-Glazed-Salmon
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-garden-green-beans/
http://www.chow.com/recipes/29960-roasted-tomato-and-fresh-mozzarella-bruschetta
http://toneitup.com/blog.php?Holiday-Hottie-Series-Your-Workout-and-Healthy-Desserts-5620
http://foodskop.com/2009/04/01/seared-salmon-with-garlicky-green-beans/