Creative Cook Spices Up
WHEN I'm preparing a meal, I enjoy thinking about how certain recipes came to be among my personal favorites. So many of mine are all tied up in decades of delicious memories as well as my family background!
That is certainly true of Tomato Basil Bruschetta, Baked Mushroom Chicken, green salad with Berry Vinaigrette and Cheesecake Praline Squares.
Tomato Basil Bruschetta definitely reflects my heritage. I'm part of a large Italian family that celebrates every possible occasion with great food. Bruschetta is a traditional Italian garlic bread that is delightful as an appetizer or an accompaniment to a meal.
I came up with this variation several summers ago, when I had a surplus of ripe garden tomatoes and my husband, Bruce, and I were expecting guests for dinner. They loved the fresh-tasting topping of tomatoes, herbs and cheese.
She Dresses Up Chicken
A delightful entree that goes together quickly, Baked Mushroom Chicken is elegant enough to be company-worthy. I found a recipe in a church cookbook in my collection, then made some changes…and the result was wonderful!
(A quick word about my cookbook collection—I stopped counting my books at 1,500! Among them are three cookbooks I have published. These contain recipes I have created or received from friends and relatives.)
Although I like to prepare long involved recipes when time allows, I also enjoy producing relatively simple meals like this one. I feel comfortable with it, and it is very popular.