Friday Night Alfresco

Friday is a day I have a little more time to prepare; and more importantly, to actually savor dinner before rushing off to work or practices. I'm always appreciative when I have a little time peruse my plethora of cookbooks and food magazines to find something new, healthy,  and delicious. I had come across a recipe for cucumber gazpacho that I wanted to try and  was looking for something special to go with the simple cold soup. I came across two meal plans (links below) and, as usual, pulled from a few places to come up with a meal that fit my family's tastes and needs. I ended up making:

• Gazpacho of Cucumber and Green Tomato (better known as Pickle Soup)
• Sweet and Spicy Pepper Relish
• Balsamic Glazed Roma Tomato and Goat Cheese Crostini

Click the links above for my recipes and keep in mind the photo of the crostini does not do it justice. This is one of the tastiest bites I've had in a long time. It is on a classic white french baguette but the ingredients would be just as good on a gluten-free cracker or rice bread toast if you are looking for healthier alternatives.

Inspiration for my Friday Night Alfresco Meal Plan

Natalia Rose's Cucumber Gazpacho in Detox 4 Women

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_554109_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/cook/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,COOK_41503_468966_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html#

As I'm typing this I'm watching Kelsey's Essentials on The Cooking Channel. She's making this pomegranate glaze for steak. It looks amazing! I'm going to have to try to come up with something to go with it.
Pomegranate Glaze
??? Pom juice
1 Tb Dijion Mustard
3 Tb. Balsamic
1 t. Cornstarch
1/4 brown sugar

I also came across this cocktail recipe to try:
http://www.marthastewart.com/318052/pineapple-and-mango-rum-cocktails

Balsamic Glazed Tomatoes and Goat Cheese Crostini and Al Fresco Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for the Kids

Oh my gosh! These are so good! I used a classic french baguette for the crostini but the tomatoes would be delicious with most anything. For the kids I often keep the flavors more simple so I just grilled the bread on the outdoor grill and added cheese and tomato slices with a piece of romaine lettuce. We call romaine "crunchy lettuce" which seems to make it so much more appealing.

Balsamic Glazed Roma Tomatoes
To prepare the glaze, combine the following ingredients in a small bowl:

• 3 ounces balsamic vinegar
• 3 ounces extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 chopped shallot (or garlic)
• 2 sprigs fresh basil
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the tomatoes:

• Cut 4 Roma tomatoes lengthwise into slices 1/4 inch slices
• Place the tomatoes in a large skillet and pour the glaze over the tomatoes
• Simmer for about 5 minutes then flip and continue to cook the second side for another minute or two
• Keep the tomatoes warm until ready to prepare the crostini

Prepare bread for Balsamic Glazed Tomato and Goat Cheese Crostini
Really any way you like to make toast would work just fine. For this dish I brushed cut slices of baguette with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. I then toasted the bread on our outdoor grill for about 3-4 minutes on each side.

Smooth goat cheese on warm crostini and top with a tomato and basil leaf to finish.