Tag Archive for Tomatoes

Popeye the Sailor Muffins

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Delicious breakfast dish includes spinach

Delicious breakfast dish includes spinach

One ingredient that probably doesn’t quickly come to mind when you think of breakfast is spinach, unless of course you’re Popeye the Sailor.

Am I right? Tell your family they’re having spinach for breakfast and I don’t think you’ll get a lot of “Oh, yummy!” or “Can’t wait” replies from them.

Its how you present the spinach and what you prepare it with that’ll make the difference. In fact, this dish can be served for any meal of the day (or night). That’s just one of the reasons it’s enjoyed so in our house. We call it Popeye the Sailor Muffins because it features fresh spinach, a favorite of the cartoon character from our youth.

First I began by seeding and finely dicing 2 Roma tomatoes, then I took 6 slices of deli-style ham (I used Buddig Original Ham) and julienned it. I put 1 tablespoon of butter (you can also use margarine) and 1 tablespoon of Canola oil in a skillet on medium heat. Once the skillet was hot, I put the tomatoes and ham in, stirred it about and reduced the temperature down to medium low. I added a couple of turns of fresh ground black pepper and kosher salt. You can season to your taste.

While that was cooking, I julienned 1/3 cup of fresh spinach and finely chopped 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano and 1 tablespoon of green onion tops. It makes the recipe go smoother if you prepare all your ingredients before you start cooking. Since I decided on new ingredients as I cooked, I chopped and julienned as I went.

All the ingredients come together in a creamy mixture

All the ingredients come together in a creamy mixture

I added the spinach, oregano and onions to the tomato mixture and cooked for a couple of minutes more. Taking another skillet, I added a splash of Canola oil (about 1 tablespoon) and browned the halves of 3 English muffins.

I went back to the tomato mixture and added 1 cup of cottage cheese, stirring it in.

I had some of the julienned spinach leftover (about 2 tablespoons) so I sprinkled it over the English muffin halves (putting 3 halves to a plate). I topped that with the tomato mixture and sprinkled shredded Mexican Blend cheese over all of that.

The cottage cheese and the tomatoes blend together creating a creamy, smooth texture similar to melted Velveeta cheese. The ingredients come together in a burst of flavor and you forget you’re eating spinach for breakfast.

This dish, like many others, is very versatile and can be made using additional or less ingredients as you desire. As I mentioned earlier, it can also be served for any meal of the day.

Do you enjoy dishes that can be adapted for any meal of the day? Do you enjoy preparing dishes that work just as well with or without additional ingredients depending on your taste at the time?

Thanks for stopping by.

Cucina Felice!

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Popeye the Sailor Muffins

Rating 

Serves: 2-3 servings

A delicious way to introduce spinach into your breakfast without a lot of fuss
Ingredients
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 2 Tablespoons Canola oil
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 6 Slices deli-style ham
  • ⅓ Cup julienne spinach (+ 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh minced oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh finely chopped green onion tops
  • 3 English Muffins
  • 1 Cup cottage cheese
  • Shredded Mexican Blend cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)
  • Fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Fresh ground Kosher salt (to taste)
Instructions
  1. Begin by seeding and finely dicing 2 Roma tomatoes, then julienne 6 slices of deli-style ham. Put 1 tablespoon of butter (or margarine) and 1 tablespoon of Canola oil in a skillet on medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the tomatoes and ham, stirring and reduce the temperature to medium low. Add a couple of turns of fresh ground black pepper and fresh ground kosher salt seasoning to your taste.
  2. While that cooks, julienne ⅓ cup (plus 2 tablespoons) of fresh spinach and finely chopped 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano and 1 tablespoon of green onion tops. It makes the recipe go smoother if you prepare all your ingredients before you start cooking.
  3. Add the spinach, oregano and onions to the tomato mixture and cook for a couple of minutes more. Taking another skillet, add a splash of Canola oil (about 1 tablespoon) and browned the halves of 3 English muffins.
  4. Go back to the tomato mixture and add 1 cup of cottage cheese, stirring it in.
  5. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of julienned spinach over the browned English muffin halves. You can serve it for 2 with 3 halves each or for 3 with 2 halves each. Top that with the tomato mixture and sprinkled shredded Mexican Blend cheese over all of that.
  6. The cottage cheese and the tomatoes blend together creating a creamy, smooth texture similar to melted Velveeta cheese. The ingredients come together in a burst of flavor and you forget you're eating spinach for breakfast.

 

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Easy Bruschetta

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Easy Bruschetta is quick and simple to prepare

Easy Bruschetta is quick and simple to prepare

When I’m looking for a simple, quick and easy dish to prepare at the end of a long day, I turn to a recipe that’s a favorite at our house.

I found EASY BRUSCHETTA always seems to hit the spot for us. We even enjoy it for breakfast. I’ll top the bruschetta with over-easy fried eggs and it’s a hit at the picnic table for a breakfast outing.

When preparing this dish I sometimes use the oldest loaf of French or Italian bread I have on hand. The older bread works best as it doesn’t become too moist under the ingredients. You can even purchase day-old bread for this recipe.

I slice the bread diagonally and usually about ¾ to 1 inch thick. Be sure to preheat your oven to 350 degrees while you’re preparing your ingredients.

Shredded Mozzarella cheese added before baking

Shredded Mozzarella cheese added before baking

Place the bread slices on a baking sheet. You may want to put the slices in the oven for about a minute to lightly toast them before you begin layering the ingredients. Next cover the slices with the seasoned tomato sauce. If I’m in a hurry I just use plain old ketchup. It works fine, especially in a pinch. I use the back of a teaspoon to smooth the sauce (ketchup) out making sure the slices are covered completely with a generous amount. Sprinkle Italian Seasoning lightly over each slice.

Next layer your Canadian bacon over the sauce mixture. You can add as little or as much bacon as you wish. If you don’t have Canadian bacon on hand you can use regular sandwich-style ham, just cut it into sections to fit the bread slices.

Slice the tomato thinly and overlap it on top of the other ingredients. Here again, depending on your taste, you can cut down on the amount of tomatoes on each slice.

Top all this off with a generous amount of Mozzarella shredded cheese. Be sure to clean up any excess cheese on the baking sheet otherwise you’ll have a hard time cleaning up.

Place the baking sheet in the pre-heated oven for about 8 minutes. You’ll want to keep a close eye on it as ovens vary in temperature. When the cheese is melted like you want, turn the oven to broil on high and continue cooking for about 30 to 45 seconds to brown the slices slightly. Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh basil, finely minced, and serve.

Easy Bruschetta recipe found at The Surprised Gourmet
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This dish makes enough for 3 to 4 people or you can enjoy the leftovers the next day. It keeps well in the refrigerator. This is also a recipe you can play with by adding any ingredients you like.

This is quick, simple and easy to make. It’s more filling then you might think.

One other note: you could even cut the slices into bite-size pieces, add a toothpick to each and have a tasty appetizer.

Have you made a dish like this before? What other ingredients would you try on it? Thanks for dropping by.

Cucina felice!

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Easy Bruschetta

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 3-4 Servings

Ingredients
  • ¾ Loaf French or Italian Bread
  • *Seasoned tomato sauce
  • 3 ½ ounces Canadian bacon
  • 1 Large tomato, thinly sliced
  • Shredded Mozzarella (to taste)
  • Italian Seasoning (to taste)
  • Fresh Basil (6 to 8 leaves, finely minced)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cut the bread diagonally into ¾-inch slices. Place the slices on a baking sheet. You can toast the bread lightly for about a minute before adding any ingredients.
  3. Cover each slice of bread generously with the seasoned tomato sauce. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning. Put slices of Canadian bacon over each slice. Add the thinly sliced tomatoes and top off with a good amount of shredded Mozzarella cheese.
  4. *Seasoned tomato sauce is just combining a can of tomato sauce with a mixture of herbs such as oregano, thyme, basil or Italian Seasoning.
  5. Place in oven for 8 minutes or until the cheese melts to the desired texture you want. Change oven to broil on high and cook for another 30 to 45 seconds until golden brown. Remove and top with fresh basil, finely minced, and serve.

 

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