dinner last night.

caramelized pancetta and fennel salad

Okay, so maybe this post should be titled "dinner last week" because truth be told, for dinner last night,  I stood in front of the refrigerator eating leftover grilled ciabatta smeared with leftover artichoke dip. Hey, that's the way it goes some nights.  Anyway, I've been looking for some "salad inspiration" of late as I love a good salad, but seem to be in a bit of rut.  I tried this recipe from Giada.  I made a few minor alterations and it did not disappoint.  Sparky liked it too (although I think he might have been thinking, "What's the second course, hon?")  Ice cream is always a good second (third, fourth, fifth) course.  Just sayin'.

lunch right now.

Lately, I've been roasting an entire container of grape tomatoes drenched in olive oil and sprinkled with plenty of salt and pepper. There is something about roasting a (blah from the grocery store) tomato at high heat that actually makes it taste, well, like a tomato. When this lovely mixture comes out of the oven, I pour it over a large chunk of fresh mozzarella and then sprinkle torn basil leaves all over the top. The heat from the tomatoes makes the cheese all melty and releases the luscious sweet aroma from the basil. Add a little more olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar if you'd like. It's my version of a hot caprese salad. And damn, is it good.