Easy Garlic Toast

This is a recipe of my mother's that I have been making for years. I believe it came from an old "copycat" restaurant cookbook she had. The paprika sprinkled with the cheese gives this bread a beautiful color and delicious flavor.

This is one of my go-to recipes when I think to myself, "I am having company over and I need a delicious bread to serve them." Usually those same guests end up leaving asking for the recipe.

Easy Garlic Toast
((Printable Recipe))

Ingredients:
1 14" loaf French bread
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon paprika

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Cut the bread in half lengthwise. Rub one garlic clove over the crust of the bread.

3. Press the rest of the garlic you just rubbed over the crust, and the remaining clove, through a garlic press into the melted butter.

4. Brush the cut surface of the bread generously with the melted butter.

5. In a small bowl, combine the parmesan cheese, parsley, and paprika.  Sprinkle the mixture over the butter coated surface of the bread.

6. Place the bread on a cookie sheet, cut side up, and bake 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Easy Garlic Toast would be delicious along with:
Chunky Garden Style Marinara Sauce
Lentil Spaghetti Sauce
Pasta with Sautéed Leeks, White Beans, and Walnuts
Tomato Pasta Sauce with Capers and Lemon

Linked to: Weekend Potluck, Today's Creative Blog
Featured on TasteSpotting

Roasted Green Beans with Shallots and Garlic

Thanksgiving is a day of indulgence, but perhaps you just want something a little different from your standard creamy/fried onion topped green bean casserole. Here is great recipe I found from Kayln's Kitchen that takes green beans and tosses them with olive oil, roasted shallots, and garlic. It makes for a flavorful and healthy Thanksgiving side dish.

Roasted Green Beans with Shallots and Garlic
(From Kalyn's Kitchen via Fine Cooking Annual)
((Printable Version))

Ingredients:
1 lb. fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
6 shallots, peeled and sliced thin
5 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced thin
2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
fresh cracked pepper
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.

2. Toss all the ingredients together except the lemon zest, parsley, and almonds.  Place on a rimmed sheet pan.

3. Roast for 15- 20 minutes, just until the shallots brown and the beans begin to shrivel.

4. In a small bowl, toss together the parsley, almonds, and lemon zest.  Toss this with the beans when they are done cooking.  Serve warm.

Linked to: Today's Creative Blog, Midnight Maniac , Nap Time Creations, Fave Diets, Recipe Lion, The Country Cook

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

Refrigerator Dill Pickles
(makes 1 jar)
(Adapted from Food in Jars)
((Printable Recipe))

1 Kirby cucumber
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
a few sprigs of fresh dill
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 teaspoon peppercorns

Bring the water, vinegar and salt to a boil.

Wash and slice the cucumber.

Fill the jar with the garlic and peppercorns.  Add in the dill sprigs and sliced cucumbers.  Pour over the vinegar solution up to a 1/4 inch from the top of the jar.

 Screw on the lid and allow to cool, then chill for at least 24 hours.

If you love the strong bite of vinegar, these pickles are for you.

Linked to: Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy , Skip to My Lou, Delightfully Dowling,
Midnight Maniac , Katherine Martinelli