I think one of the biggest reasons I keep food blogging is because of how much I enjoy getting to know my food bloggy friends. Even though we only know each other through the world wide web, I still feel as though I have made great friends who share the same love for food.
However, I also have the pleasure of know two of my food bloggy friends in person, Sara from Sara in the Kitchen, and Alissa from Spunky Girl Eats, and it's been so fun having friends that are perfectly content discussing food for hours on end (because I know I can!). So we finally decided that it was time we come together and enjoy good food and good company for a food blogger's lunch.
I contributed the appetizer and salad, which I will feature tomorrow. I kept the appetizer very simple, but oh so delicious by making a baked caprese salad on ciabatta. I don't think I could possibly ever get enough of the tomato, mozzarella and basil combination, it's without a doubt the best threesome out there (Donna, that's for you!)
This is such a cheesy and flavorful appetizer, and converts very easily into a panini if you'd prefer it as a meal instead. It requires few ingredients and takes about ten minutes to throw together. Just be sure to use FRESH mozzarella. It melts so much better and has such a good flavor, cheesetastic!
Baked Caprese Salad on Ciabatta
Ingredients
1 ciabatta baguette, sliced
1 small block fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced thinly
4-5 Roma or campari tomatoes, sliced
6-7 fresh basil leaves, sliced into ribbons
olive oil
salt and pepper
Directions
Place ciabatta slices on baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and bake at 400 for 3-5 minutes, or until browned and toasted. Top with 1-2 tomato slices each, sprinkle salt and pepper. Then top with 1 slice of mozzarella. Sprinkle salt and pepper again and bake at 400 for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted and just starting to bubble. Just before serving, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle fresh basil. Serve warm.
Be sure to check out Sara and Alissa's blogs for additional fantastic recipes!
23 comments:
This looks so cheesy and delicious!
Oh, this is my favorite salad in the world. I love the twist you put on this! :P
I love anything with caprese in it. It's probably one of the easiest thing a person can make. Looks really good. I love that you served on some ciabatta
Mmmm, caprese salad looks wonderful! And now nice that you have "real-world" friends who blog about food too!
Isn't it amazing how much flavor can be derived from 3 simple ingredients?? LOVED it. You could sell that in a restaurant.
I agree, these three flavors are just a perfect partnership. Big YUM YUM!! Glad you have friends who share you foodie interests. It is fun to talk of food for hours and hours!
I seriously don't think we've ever had a conversation without the mentioning of some type of food....and that's a lot of food talk lady! I absolutely LOVED eating this, the combination of the flavors was delicious!!! Thanks for the shout out:) Love you!
these look so incredibly good - I feel like I can smell them...nice!
These would make my mouth happy...they look terrific.
Cheesetastic (love that word!!) I love how the cheese is melting all over the bread- yum! Sounds like a great time spent with foodies.
aww..I wish I could have a food blogger's lunch too. Baked caprese salad sounds wonderful!
The picture tells the story. Yummy!! Thanks Kathy.
How fun!! These look really delicious!
Mmm...wonderful!
The salad looks so good. Great idea....food blogging does open up a whole new world and it's a lot of fun!
Love everything about this dish! I recently had a meeting of blog friends and it wasn't like meeting strangers at all!
My blog does nothing else but show my husband the THOUSANDS of women who think about food all the time - I am not alone! :D
Such a pretty appetizer. I love the red white and green. Great job!
Popped in from Ingrid's to say hi! This looks so wholesome and fresh!
just stumbled upon your blog (showed up as recommended in my google reader) and i love it! tons of great recipes on here!
Gorgeous presentation, Teresa! This looks so delicious.
That's so cool that you get to have a bloggers' lunch! I didn't know you could serve caprese warm like that. Yum!
i mAke this salad once a week, and i love your idea, very well done! this is oign to be next, thanks for the recipe,
cheers from london,
piy
Okay, I'm a terrible foodie in that I DON'T like tomatoes. Yeah, I know wierd.
I'm so jealous that you've gotten to meet some other bloggers! I wanna meet you!
~ingrid
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