Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Heirloom Tomato Flatbread Pizza Recipe

This is what you'll need:
1 Heirloom Tomato - Can use regular tom. as well. I prefer the yellow because they are sweeter. I just planted the yellow ones in the garden for the first time :)
Red pepper
Few cloves of garlic, cut each clove into 3 pieces (I like the chunks of garlic)
Fresh Basil
Olive Oil
Mozzarella
Parmesan
Kosher Salt
Cracked Pepper
Flat Bread ( I like the brand below because it is low in calories, sugar, and fat)
Preheat oven 400 degrees. Saute sliced peppers and garlic in olive oil on stove for about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels to remove extra oil. Put flat bread on pizza stone and sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella. Put in oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Add sliced tomatoes topped with salt and pepper. *If you want to get fancy you can drizzle with a LITTLE bit of basil oil. Top with red peppers and some more Parmesan. Put back in oven until the Parmesan melts and turns a little brown ( I put mine under the broiler for a quick minute). Remove from oven and top with garlic and fresh basil. Enjoy!
*Option Basil Oil:
Put 1/4 cup basil leaves in boiling water for 10 seconds. Carefully remove with slotted spoon and place in food processor or blender with 1/3 cup olive oil. Puree. Drain with mesh strainer. Using oil and discarding basil.
Can use left over oil that you don't use on tomatoes broiled in the oven (one of my favorites!) or pasta.






What to plant now...Peek in my Garden


Love this time of year! I just finished planting my spring/summer beds. I put the metal cages over all of my plants this year in "attempt" to keep my dog from digging them up...we'll see how that works! This year I bought all of my plants at Home Depot. I get the "Bonnie" plants there because they use a minimal amount of pesticides.
Here's a list of some plants you can buy now (it's too late to plant most seeds): peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, basil, oregano, squash, zucchini, beans (buy the seed).
If you are buying eggplant, there are many different types. The ones I see most of in the garden nurseries are "black beauty". I along with 2 of my neighbors have never had any luck with them. They have beautiful leaves and flowers, but the flowers fall off and never pollinate. I've had the best luck with the white, lavendar, and "ichabon" eggplants. Hope this helps :)