Tried and true and some things new!

And ALL are insanely easy!

This weekend, I tested some simple new recipes...with mouthwatering results! (But I had to throw in an old standard as well!) There is one appetizer that NEVER lasts, regardless of who joins for dinner and that's my Bruschetta. It could not be easier - sliced cherry tomatoes (yellow and red for extra color), olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh chopped garlic, salt, and pepper all combined and placed on toasted baguette slices. Then to add even more flavor, I add fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese. This serving tray was completely empty ten minutes after I served it!

But then for something new, I decided to use the extra tomatoes and basil to create Caprese Bruschetta. Also very simple - tomatoes, basil, mozzarella pearls, and drizzled all over with balsamic glaze which you can either buy in the grocery store or make at home by reducing balsamic vinegar over low heat until it thickens. FYI - this plate was also completely empty within ten minutes!

For dinner tonight, I made Blackened Salmon Scampi Pasta. This had so much flavor! My blackening rub included salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon zest. I brushed both sides of the salmon with olive oil so that the rub would adhere, and then it was onto a screaming hot cast iron griddle for just a few minutes in order to have a moist pink center. For well done, just leave them on a bit longer (also depends on the thickness of the fish). The pasta sauce is just olive oil, butter, garlic, lemon juice, white wine, and some red pepper flakes. Once it reduced a bit, I added some heavy cream, a little extra lemon zest, and fresh chopped parsley. I tossed with the pasta and sprinkled on some extra parmesan and parsley before serving with a slice of grilled country bread and a lemon wedge. AMAZING, yet very light overall. Perfect for a spring or summer dinner!

And for those of you with a sweet tooth, check out my new Butterscotch Pudding Cups. Since the theme this weekend is "EASY", this had to fit as well. The bottom of the glass is caramel sauce (about 1-2 tablespoons), then butterscotch pudding, then butterscotch sauce, and to finish, whipped cream and a caramel chew. To make homemade butterscotch pudding, you just need brown sugar, cornstarch, milk, and eggs. Combine the dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine over heat until it thickens. Add some butter to melt in and you're in business!

And finally, I also made Deconstructed S'mores Cups. They are as easy to make as they look impressive. The bottom is boxed chocolate pudding mix (take shortcuts when you can!), then I toasted some marshmallows, added some crushed graham crackers, and finished with some semi-sweet chocolate chunks which I made by combing morsels with hot heavy cream until smooth and then I spread it out evenly on a baking sheet lined with a silicone pad. Then I froze it for an hour before scraping off chunks to scatter on top.

That's all for now! Trying one new recipe in the morning....I'll let you know how it goes!