Indulge In {The Perfect Cheese Board}

I would have to say this is less cheese board and more a cheese and cured meats board. Either way it's perfect. Ever since I can remember, I've been a big fan of cheese. All kinds of cheese too. It's never mattered how stinky, pungent, or soft cheese was, I would eat it. And when you pair those stinky, pungent, soft cheeses with some slices of cured meat, I'm like a kid in a candy store, unable to decide which to snack on first or which cheese/meat combination to try. So, a couple of months ago, tired of going out to find a great board, I took to making my own. Since then, I've made cheese and meat boards for every function at the house. Sometimes I make them just because it's Sunday. I like to think I've nearly perfected my ideal cheese board. It's a combination of some delicious Italian cured meats and a mix of hard and soft cheeses. While my ideal board would contain a chunk of bleu and slices of gruyere, this one is a bit more friendly for all pallets with milder, more universal cheeses. Plus, it's still amazingly delicious. So, instead of continuing to talk about my love affair with cheese, I figure I'll just share the makings of my perfect cheese board.

:: Ingredients ::
Brie Wedge
Sliced Fresh Mozzarella
Parmesan Block
Sliced Prosciutto
Sliced Capocollo
Sliced Deli Pepperoni
Peach Jam
Multi Grain Crackers

:: Directions ::
Assemble ingredients on large board and serve with cheese knives and a glass of wine.

Have a tasty Thursday!

Indulge In {Shrimp & Tomatoes}

Besides cocktails, I think food may be one of my favorite topics. As a real eater (I'm constantly stuffing my face), I take my food very seriously. But, at the same time, I tend to cook on the whim throwing ingredients together as I go and never following a recipe. Most of the time it turns out tragic, but sometimes it turns out amazing. This is one of those times that throwing things in a pan and hoping for the best really worked in my favor. This shrimp and tomato concoction would be delicious over pasta but is also amazing just the way it is, which is how I ate it. Serve it up with a toasted parmesan round and enjoy! Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients ::

1 pound medium white shrimp, peeled and deveined 

5 medium tomatoes on the vine, diced

1 medium onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes to taste

:: Directions ::

1. In a large sauce pan, sautee onion and garlic until onions are translucent. 

2. Mix in tomatoes, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cover and reduce to a simmer.

3. Cook tomatoes down for approximately 10-15 minutes (tomatoes should be broken down and a nice sauce formed). Add shrimp, cover and cook until shrimp is done. Approximately 5 minutes. 

4. Ladle it up with a toasted parmesan round for dipping.

Enjoy!