Romance & Peppermint Choco Martinis

So many parties won't be happening this year. 

That doesn't mean you can't have a little "party" with your honey. 

Even if you have kids, a "party night" would be fun. Schedule a night for a "party". Everybody can dressed up in party clothes, play some music, nibble on a meat and cheese plate. 

Enjoy playing a party game of some sort.

Make a non-alcohol punch for kids and make a special adults-only drink for you and your honey.

Have fun making a party drink to share. 

Here's one of my favorites.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 parts KAHLÚA PEPPERMINT MOCHA
1/2 part vodka
 1/4 part half and half
 1/4 part chocolate milk
Garnish with whipped cream and small candy cane

#Thursday13 - Autumn Date Ideas

I love FALL.  Everything about the season is wonderful! Acorn squash smothered with butter and brown sugar cooks in the stove while a hot apple pie cools. Burning leaves and then enjoying a glass of wine with friends. Here are a few ideas for you and your honey to have some time to yourselves.

1. Visit a local orchard or pumpkin patch.

2. Go apple picking then make caramel apples.

3. Bake an apple or pumpkin pie together then eat it before it gets cold. Have fun with the left over whipping cream. Enjoy a glass of local wine or brew.

4. Find your inner child and go on a corn maze and hayride. Rake leaves into a pile and jump in!

5. Make Apple Cider Floats and snuggle in front of a fire.

Apple Cider Float

1 cup of real apple cider

½ cup ginger ale

1-2 scoops vanilla ice cream or a seasonal flavor such as cinnamon or apple pie

Ground cinnamon and nutmeg for sprinkling

1-2 TBSP caramel sauce

Pour apple cider and ginger ale into a glass. Add vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle on nutmeg and cinnamon to taste and drizzle caramel sauce on top. Serve with straw and spoon.

 

6. If you are in a warmer climate, take your lap top and a bowl of popcorn to the backyard and watch a movie.

7. Have a thermos picnic at the park. Pack soup and hot cocoa.

8. Go on a Fall Foliage Drive. Pick up some pumpkin spice coffee and enjoy the ride.

9. Visit a local book store. Many offer special autumn displays and events.

10. Hop in the car and go for a drive to find a coffee shop or a local pub to visit.

11. Go on a Sunset Date. Grab a thermos of cocoa and a blanket then head off to a park to watch the sunset. If a park isn't in the cards, simply step onto your porch or back deck.  Weather permitting, do some star gazing too. Super romantic!

12. Have a “Power Outage” Date. Turn all the lights off, light some candles and have some fun.

13. Try a Spa Night. Take a bath together, give each other massages and put on your comfy-cozies.

What word do you use to describe this season? Autumn or Fall?

Click HERE for more super cool Thursday 13 lists.

Halloween Drinks (For Adults)

Will you be dressing up (or not) and walking the kiddies around to Trick or Treat?

OR

Will you be handing out goodies to the little gremlins and like at your door?

 

How a bout a little somethin' something' to warm the cockles of your heart on the darkest night?

 

Try these frighteningly delicious drinks.

 

Baileys Caramel Apple

 

2 oz Baileys Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur

0.5 Smirnoff Green Apple Flavored Vodka

1 dash of Goldschlager Schnapps

 

Pour Baileys & Vodka into an ice-filled shaker. Shake & strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Float Goldschalger on top. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

********************

 

Cabin Cider

 

1.5 oz Cabin Fever Maple Flavored Whisky

4 oz hot apple cider

 

Add whisky to warm or cold cider in a Collins glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

***********

 

Hot Maple Chocolate

1.5 oz Cabin Fever Maple Flavored Whiskey

1.5 oz Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur

4 oz hot chocolate

Add whiskey & Irish Cream Liqueur to hot chocolate in a mug. Top with whipped cream.

***********

Of course I have to share my favorites. 

Try a spiced red wine warmed up. Garnish with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick. 

 

 



Romance Tip - Enjoy the Hummers... Birds That Is

Living in the woods has provided my family with hours of enjoyment watching wildlife. We have feeding stations (store bought bird feeders as well as simple platforms made from stumps) placed in the yard. We have glass hummingbird feeders hanging on the front porch as well as on our back deck. I can't grow many flowers so I try to select a few hummers and butterflies enjoy.

Hubby and I enjoy quiet moments sipping wine and watching our neighborhood humming birds visit a feeder which is only a few feet from where we sit. Once in a while a couple females get scrappy and poor hubby has to duck out of fear of getting flown into by one of the tiny creatures. (He likes wearing red t-shirts... perhaps it makes them amorous.)

ROMANCE TIP:

Grab your honey and visit your local hardware or home store and pick up a brightly colored humming bird feeder. Together in the kitchen brew up a batch of Hummingbird food. Find a spot in your yard where you can hang the feeder and sit to enjoy some quiet time together. Early morning while enjoying your coffee or in the evening sharing a bottle of wine is the best time for simple romance while bird watching.

Below is some tips on food and care of your feeder. 

Food
    In nature, hummingbirds eat flower nectar for energy and bugs for protein.  Flower nectar is 21% to 23% sucrose - regular table sugar - so it is very easy and inexpensive to make.  Here is the recipe for making hummingbird nectar:

1. Mix 4 parts water to 1 part table sugar in a pan.  For example, use 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water.  Do not use honey, Jell-O or brown sugar.   Especially do not use artificial sweeteners.  Putting hummingbirds on a diet will kill them.  They burn prodigious amounts of energy for their size and need real sugar.  Do not use red food coloring.  It is unnecessary and can harm the little hummers even in low concentrations because they eat so much nectar.  If your feeder isn't red, tie a red ribbon on it as described in the Feeders section, above.  Do not add anything else that you might think of.  Just sugar and water, that's all.
2. Bring to a boil then remove from the heat.  Stir it while it is heating until all of the sugar is dissolved.  Don't boil it for long because that will change the ratio as water is boiled off.  The reason for boiling is not to make syrup, but to drive out the chlorine in the water and to kill mold and yeast spores that might be in the sugar.  This will help make the nectar last longer both in the feeder and in your refrigerator. 
3. Cover and allow to cool before using or pouring into the storage bottle.  We recommend making a large batch of nectar and storing it in the refrigerator in a 2 liter soda bottle (washed thoroughly first.)  This makes refilling the feeder so easy that you won't mind doing it every few days.

Cleanliness
    Sugar water is a very rich growth medium.  Yeasts like to eat it causing fermentation which can harm hummingbirds.  Mold and bacteria grow in it and can also harm the birds.  That is why it is important to keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh.  You must change the nectar frequently to avoid these contaminants.    In cooler temperatures we recommend changing it every seven days.  If the temperatures are getting above 70 degrees, follow this chart:

High temperatures		Change nectar after
71-75		6 days
76-80		5 days
81-84		4 days
85-88		3 days
89-92		2 days
93+		change daily

Tasty Tuesday - Blueberry Cobbler for Couples

This post is in honor of the Montrose Blueberry Festival that wasn't.

For the first time since it began, The Montrose Blueberry Festival did not happen. All over social media people posted photos and memories of past events. The Montrose Orchard still hosted some small blueberry events and made blueberry sweets. The local ice cream shop still offered blueberry ice cream. I purchased my berries, did you? 

August is blueberry season.  Grab your guy and head out to the fields for some ripe, juicy berries waiting for you to pick them.

When you get home, put on a cute apron and invite him to help.

Pour a glass of blueberry wine

while you make this delicious recipe.

EASY PEASY BLUEBERRY COBBLER

Ingredients for 8×8 Square Pan
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
Fruit filling of choice - 1 1/2 cartons of blueberries (her favorite is 1 carton of blackberries and 4 peaches, thinly sliced)
1/2 cup melted butter
Cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350˚
Spray baking dish
Combine flour and sugar
Spoon 1/2 of the dry ingredients to cover the entire bottom of the dish, keeping the dry mixture loose, not packed
Spoon have the butter over dry ingredients (it will just sit on top)
Add your fruit filling
Combine the remaining dry ingredients and butter to create a dough
Place the dough in cobbles over the fruit
Sprinkle with cinnamon
Bake for 45 minutes
Enjoy warm with ice cream!

I recommend trying blueberry wine.  

My favorite is Blueberry Splash from Warner Vineyards in Paw Paw, MI.  

Support your local blueberry growers.

Tasty Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a favorite comfort food. But if you're like me, I'm tired of making the same-old-same-old. Quarantine 2020 is providing many opportunities for experimental baking. Since my sons are all around, I have plenty of willing taste testers.

During this time, I recommend having some fun in the kitchen with your honey.  Pour each of you a glass of wine. Wear matching aprons. Feel free to get a little silly... remember when you first were living together?

I found this unique recipe and didn't tell son #2 about the cream cheese, (he hates the stuff). The addition of cream cheese gives these chocolate chip cookies a rich, dense, cake-like texture. 

Give it a try!

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 ounces butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips

Preparation:

·         Heat oven to 350°. Grease a cookie sheet, or spray with nonstick cooking spray, or line with silicone liner.

·         In a mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Slowly beat in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips.

·         Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet(s), leaving about 1 inch between cookies. These cookies spread very little. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the cookies are set and lightly browned around the edges.

·         Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen cookies.

Tasty Tuesday - Sex on the Beach

Ah... summertime. Nothing beats sex on the beach

if you don't mind sand in your butt crack and other crevices, that is.

 And don't forget if you're caught, you might have a fine or get arrested.  

So let's play it safe with the other Summertime favorite

Sex On The Beach
(the drink)

1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz peach schnapps
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz orange juice

Add vodka and peach schnapps to a highball glass over ice.

Fill with equal measures of cranberry juice and orange juice, and stir.

CHEERS

Couple Fun – Make a Wish Jar

Flyboy and I enjoying junking together. Using the ads in the paper, we carefully plot out our adventure visiting yard, garages and barns. We find all sorts of treasures. I love to collect jars... clear, glass jars to display candies and cookies. I found a unique and fun idea using jars.

Couples often look for ways to entice a partner to expand his or her perspectives on the possibilities in or even out of the bedroom. Often planning a special romantic evening as a surprise for your honey often doesn’t go as arranged. Kids, pets, families, work… so many things may interrupt. It would be much easier to plan something with your partner rather than planning a surprise.

Keep two “wish” jars in the kitchen, one for each or you. Next to them keep a stack of index cards. Whenever something comes to mind that would be fun to do together, it gets written down on an index card and dropped into the appropriate jar.

Create a ritual for the “big drawing”. At the beginning of each month, sit down at the end of the day with a glass of wine and some cheese. Pick five cards at random from each other’s jar. Read them over, talk about them and maybe even negotiate a bit.  The only rule is you have to agree on two activities to be done during the next month.

Start your jar today for some fun!

Friday Flirting Tips

Flirting is a subtle and not too serious aspect of romance. It is a basic instinct to want to charm the other sex.   However, flirting isn’t only for singles; just because you are in a committed relationship doesn’t mean you need to stop flirting with your honey.  Flash an unexpected smile at him and watch his eyes begin to twinkle as he smiles back.  Flirting can be fun and sexy.

Here are a few tips:

Body Language

• Throw sidelong glances frequently
• Prolonged eye contact -Eye contact is very essential at the time of flirting. It shows that you are confident about yourself.
• Arched eyebrows
• Winking
• Touch your neck or hair after looking at him
• Smiling - A smile not only breaks the ice and makes the atmosphere easy going, but also improves your face value.
• Licking of lips
• Touching the lips or teeth with tongue
• Any form of touching

Conversation

• Laughter
• Whispering
• Personal questions, everyone likes to talk about themselves
• Singling someone out in a group for conversation and questions

However if you are single and you flirt, keep in mind that flirting should indicate your interest in getting to know someone.   Flirting is designed to make the person you're flirting with feel attractive and special, not intimidated. The most important tip on flirting is BE YOURSELF.

Sex tips to boost your love life

It's important to remember that sex should be fun. Communication with your partner is the most important element in any relationship. Other keys are maintaining a healthy lifestyle, seek out some of the may excellent self-help materials on the market, and just having fun can help you weather the bumps and keept things on track.

Here are a few points:

1. Be confident
It's the sexiest thing any woman can do to turn on her man - take control and be sure about what you want and how you want it done.

2. Enjoy each other's bodies
Give each other compliments, pay special attention to a person's less favourite bits, make them feel desired and sexy. Body confidence is sexual gold!

3. Talk.
Tell your partner what you're enjoying and why, even what could be done to make the sex better; faster slower etc.. The sure-fire way to better sex time and time again!

4. Engage in foreplay
It's easy to forget that foreplay is all part of your sex life. Make sure you have enough foreplay with your partner until you're both ready for intercourse. Prolong it by putting your clothes on, go out for a drink or a meal. Keep the evening going on as long as you can until you have to run home for the most intense sex ever!

5. Surprise your partner
Put on some sexy lingerie one evening after work and wait for him. Don't let him touch you, dominate and lead him to the bedroom.

6. Drink coffee
Research has indicated that a couple of cups of coffee could well boost the female libido. Even if that's not 100% guaranteed, the caffeine will improve your concentration - very important if you're getting hot and steamy in the bedroom.

7. Turn off the TV
You may love watching what Rita and Norris are up to in Corrie, but it's a bit of a passion killer. Hit the off button and pay attention to each other.

8. Do a strip-tease
It doesn't have to look professional, as long as you move seductively in front of him and slowly take off your clothes. Don't allow him to touch either - this will turn him on even more.

9. Choose the right music

Having the right tunes playing in the background can improve your bedroom experience. The right rhythm will make your lovemaking far more enjoyable. Try Dr. Amgad & Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing for starters.

10. Ice ice baby
If you're performing oral sex on your fella, try popping an ice cube in your mouth halfway through - the sensation as it goes from warm to cold will drive him wild.

11. Eat salmon.
Obviously, it's a great choice for dinner, but it's also known as a sexual powerhouse. The vitamins in salmon will help lift the libido, it contains mood-enhancing Omega-3 oils and is protein rich, which is good for stamina.

12. Turn off the lights
In fact, go one step further and blindfold each other. By getting rid of the sense of sight, you'll be forced to use your other senses.

13. Don't touch his private parts
By not going for the one place he's desperate for you to touch, you'll drive him wild. Delay it as long as possible and when you do get there, make only the faintest touch at first.

Being a 48yr Old Sex Kitten

Today I am celebrating the second anniversary of my 24nd birthday.   So does that mean I'm old?  Over the hill?  At the end of my youth?  With life expectancy around 86... I guess I've only passed the middle.

I've discussed this "age issue" with my friends and we have agreed on several points.  The kids are growing, hubby is still sexy, secrets are safe with friends, the grass is greener, the sky is bluer, and life is great!  We ARE like fine wine. We are much smarter and don't waste time with silly people.

I feel sexier now than I did when I was 24.  I've worked on being a woman for 48 years and I'm getting better at it.  The girls are still perky and I like my curves. I'm a warrior in the battle with my hormones as I approach the infamous “change”. 

40-something is the new 20-something!  According to relationship psychologist Susan Quilliam, co-author of The Joy of Sex, "There's plenty of research that shows sex gets better for women as they get older. It's one of the best-kept secrets of women's lives." 

Keep a positive attitude and be the creature of experience. Take pleasure in each other, laugh, explore, and be sensitive to each other’s needs as well as point of exhaustion. Orgasms may become more frequent and intense, touch may feel more sensitive, and sex may become more playful and more meaningful. Enjoy it, live it, and love it.  Pull out those silk scarves, handcuffs, and all those things you were too afraid to try 10 years ago! 

Jane Polden, a psychotherapist who specializes in working with middle-aged women, says “Older women are more confident of who they are, and it's a deep-seated confidence, which means they're not scared of intimacy, and they're not scared of going all out for what they need to feel satisfied."

A woman in her 40's can be a provocative sex kitten (or a cougar - a lot of young men are excited about being with a 40+ woman. Think of the film, The Graduate, released in 1967.)  She is sure of herself and the skin she lives in.  Sex is fun, life is good... it only gets better.

In conclusion to my meanderings, I think being 40-something is hot.  Hubby thinks so too.  

Fun & Romantic Winter Activities

Valentine's Day is a just around the corner and in this part of the world we are under a blanket of snow. The good thing is that the holiday falls on a Saturday which opens opportunity for a variety of ideas to celebrate. 

1. Play in the snow.  Ski, snowboard, have a snowball fight or simply go for a walk.

2. Dinner and a movie. Remember when you started dating and you actually went out? Relive those memories and visit a resturant and theater you did back then. Looking for something new? Check your local listings, many theaters may offer special "dining experiences". 

3. Ice skating.  A playful activity and a chance to be silly.  Enjoy warming up in a local coffee shop afterwards.

4. Dinner by the fire.  Make a meal together. Spread a blanket in front of the fireplace and enjoy your meal "picnic style".

5. Go for a drive.  Pick a destination such as a little restaurant or a bed and breakfast.

6. Pick up some romantic comedies and curl up together for a movie marathon of love. Have fingerfoods handy or order take out. Everytime the characters in the film kiss, you & your honey kiss as well. 

7.  Play a board game or put together a puzzle.    Keep it romantic by adding wine, candles and music.  If you want to spice things up, purchase a sexy board game to play. 

8.  Have an indoor picnic.  Use blankets, pillows, picnic ware and favorite finger foods.

9. Take a bath together.  Stop at your local bath and body shop to pick up bubble bath or bath salts and some spa items.

10. Light some candles or add a bit of lavender to a room humidfier (check manufacture directios first). Give each other sensual massages. Use a store bought massage oil or make your own buy blending olive oil or coconut oil with a few drops of an essential oil. Try a massage candle, they melt at low heat to form an oil. 

11.  Go on a moonlight snowshoe tour.  Check with your local ski resort to see if they offer this romantic event.

12.  Have a soup night.  Go shopping together in the day for the ingredients and have fun making the soup together. While it's simmering, make a loaf of French bread. Add some wine with the meal.  Don't turn on the TV but simply enjoy each other.

13. If you live in the North Atlantic Coast...enjoy a snow day.  Spend the day in bed.

Tasty Tuesday–Spike Your Cocoa

Last week the temps here in Michigan were flirting with zero. My friends in Minnesota experienced frigid temps. (Lets look for a baby boom in nine months.) Cold temp means opportunity to warm up by cuddling with a mug of hot chocolate.

I have a hot cocoa station in my kitchen for the kids. I found some decorative canning jars and filled them with various ingredients. Powder cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, flavored creamer. Keep mugs or cups handy. Use mugs with names to prevent confusion or use a variety of cups for fun.

 

 

 

For the adults, keep flavored schnapps handy. A shot of peppermint is delicious. My favorite is Michigan Cherry liqueur – tastes like a hot chocolate covered cherry!

 

 

For a bit of romance… sip a mug of spiked hot cocoa while cuddling with your honey. 

Fun Friday - Couple Fun

Sexy games can bring the spice back to any relationship. Perhaps you once had a terrific sex life, but the hassles of day-to-day existence have made sex less of a priority.

 Set some ground rules before playing sexy games. Both partners must be able to end the game at any time, for any reason. 

Setting up "safe words." Some couples find that particularly during role-playing games, a “safe word” helps their confidence level. A safe word is a word that is not likely to come up during your game session. 

Either partner can use the safe word at any time as a sign to end the game immediately. It is extremely important that both partners respect each other enough to respect the use of the safe word and end the game without question.

Respect each other's vulnerability. Never laugh at your partner when playing sexy games. Some of the situations may be silly and certainly giggling can be a healthy part of a good sex life. But laughing at your partner may cause him to clam up and be unwilling to participate in future sexy games. 

People tend to be particularly vulnerable during sexual situations, so always treat your partner with tenderness and respect.

How To Initiate Sexy Games
If you have difficulty broaching the idea of sexy games with your partner, ease into the conversation using any of a variety of tactics. Broach the subject of a magazine article you may have read. Another way to ease your partner into the idea of sexy games is with a simple but meaningful present. 

Instead of the usual tie or sweater for the next holiday, give him a card containing 52 “love coupons.” Each coupon can be redeemed for whatever sexy act is depicted on the card. Tell him that he is entitled to redeem one coupon a week for the next year.

Enjoy yourself and enjoy your partner.

As you and your partner gain confidence, you can move into progressively more wild sexy games. Sexy games should not be the sole focus of your sex life, but can bring new life into one that has begun to stagnate.

Thursday 13- Cheap Summertime Date Ideas

Doing activities together strengthen the bonds in a relationship. However, not everything has to lead to lovemaking, simply being together doing non-romantic things gives a relationship a boost. Social science researches have discovered key activities that seem to help couples stay healthily bonded.

* Taking on a challenge together

*Being active together

*Sharing interest or exploring new ones

*Celebrating or learning more about your partner

*Doing the sexy stuff

*Making time for talking and laughing

Here is my list of 13 Cheap Date Ideas:

1. Visit your childhood... 

visit your old elementary schools, climb on the monkey bars. Share stories about your childhoods.

2.Take a camping class....

North Face, Columbia, Coleman and Bass Pro shops offer one day Camping 101 classes.

3. Just get in the car and drive...

Pick up some iced coffees or ice cream cones and go for a drive. Need a destination? Open a map, close your eyes and put a pin on the map and see where you might head off to.

4. Picnic...

Pack a picnic and head to a park. A change of scenery is nice.

5.Visit an observatory...

Many are open to the public once a month for free or a small fee. Some include lectures or concerts.

6. Find a night program at a park...

Many state and national parks offer nighttime programs such as moonlight hikes and star gazing.

7. Take dancing lessons...

many dance studios and clubs offer free dance once-a-week classes.

8. Volunteer...

Habitat for Humanity has programs running all summer long.

9. Reenact your first date...

If you can't go back to the original location, simply get creative.

10. Go shopping...

You don't have to save shopping for when you need something, but go just to go and not be interrupted by kids. Enjoy the ability to look at everything. Don't be afraid to get a little silly... just don't get thrown out by security.

11. Go to a community event….

Concerts in the park and outdoor movies are common in many areas. 

12. Attend a local movie festival…

See one-of-a-kind movies shown in smaller venues.

13. Visit your local coffee shop…

They often host local poets and authors for readings as well as musicians.

CLICK HERE for more Thursday 13

Fitness Friday - Police Your Portions

To be healthy and fit you may need to police you portions. 

No I don't mean him.

Does your steak take up more than half your plate? Think about cutting your serving of beef in half. That's because it's best to try and fill half your plate with veggies or a mixture of veggies and fresh fruit so it's harder to overdo it on the more caloric dishes (like cheesy potatoes or barbecue sauce–slathered ribs—yum!). 

Create a romantic evening and share a meal with your honey. Eat off the same plate and feed each other. 

Tasty Tuesday - Cake Mix Cookies

Other than being an author, I'm a mom to three boys...all athletes and involved in everything. Son #2 is on a school baseball team that plays double-headers regularly. A friend of mine cooks up hotdogs for the boys, others bring chips and I make cookies.

Being a busy mom I'm lucky the boys favorite cookie is one of the easiest to make. The boys like the flavor of the French Vanilla and the soft, chewy texture I create by taking the cookies out after baking for 10 min.

1 box French Vanilla cake mix
1/2 cup of oil
2 eggs
2 Tbsp water
1 cup of chocolate chips (I add a little more)

Mix well and drop by teaspoon onto a prepared cookie sheet. (I use parchment paper).
Bake at 350 for 10 - 12 min,
Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before removing off the sheet. Place on rack to continue cooling.

Warning: the cookie dough is really yummy and may be eaten if kids are around

TIP: have your honey help you make these sweet treats and enjoy them warm with a glass of milk.

Tasty Tuesday - Romantic Italian Toast

I made this as an appetizer to ease the hungry monsters (aka teen boys) while our pizza baked. However, it turned romantic once the creatures left hubby and I alone in the kitchen with our glasses of wine. This toast makes a nice snack with wine while enjoying a fire in the fireplace on a quiet evening.

 Italian Toast Guide and Recipe

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

25 mins

·         Extra virgin olive oil

·         Kosher or Sea salt

·         Freshly ground black pepper

·         Dried oregano (optional)

·         Dried thyme (optional)

·         Garlic (optional)

·         Hot red pepper flakes (optional)

Process

1. Start by slicing a good quality baguette into ½ inch pieces and set on a large cookie pan. Drizzle olive oil on one side of the bread followed by the salt, pepper, and dry oregano.

2. Place the cookie sheet in your oven and set to broil and watch the bread carefully; as soon as you begin to see the bread turn brow remove from the oven.

The toast is great alone or add sliced/shredded Italian cheese during last 5 min of baking.

Here is our favorite topping to put on cooled toast:

Tomato-Basil 

Ingredients

·         Simple Crostini

·        3 Roman tomatoes diced

·         several fresh basil leaves, roll and slice

·         1 tablespoon(s) olive oil

·         1 teaspoon(s) red-wine vinegar

·        1 clove garlic diced fine

·          Coarse salt & Ground pepper

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine tomatoes, basil leaves, olive oil, and red-wine vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Let sit for at least 5 min. Top toast with topping.

Have fun "playing" in the kitchen together. Couples can relax, laugh and steal some romantic moments...even with teens around. Be prepared for teens to roll their eyes and say, "Ewe!" as they walk away to give you privacy.

This recipe is a great way to use leftovers. I like to use French bread I purchase off the "day old" rack at the market. I recommend to try a fruity wine such as a Sauvignon Blanc or even a Pinot Grigo. The bright crisp qualities of these wines will match up to the acidity of the fresh tomatoes.   while the fruit will play up its sweet, juicy characteristics. Personally, I'm a sweet red wine drinker and won't eat fresh romas without it.