Dinner at the Thompsons

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a free necklace from T's ETC!

Monday's dinner: penne noodles with brushetta and cheesy bread:

Brushetta:

4-5 romas diced

1 handful of basil, chopped

1-2 tsp. garlic, chopped

1-2 T. EVOO

salt and pepper to taste

(better if you make earlier in the day and let sit and get yummy)

Boil Penne noodles according to pkg. (I always go longer 'cause I don't like mine "al dente":)

Mix hot noodles with brushetta and top with parmesan cheese.

(we also add a bit of balsamic vinegar too, but I did that after the picture since it just makes it all look brown and mucky...but man is it GOOD).

Cheesy bread: I took the easy route and bought some french bread at the grocery store...then buttered it and garlic powdered it and added some mozz cheese. Wrapped in foil and baked at 450* for 20-25 minutes. Lil D dipped his in more balsamic...what can I say...he has a "fancy palate":) Ok really...he will dip anything into anything...he's one of those kids.

Tuesday's dinner: Homemade mini pizzas:

I spent many a night trying to perfect pizza dough...blech...it sucked...then we went to NY and ate pizza there...then I REALLY gave up on trying to make my own...SO...I heard that rhodes frozen bread dough makes great pizza crust...AMEN to that! We LOVE thin, and I mean thin crust pizza...so this dough is the best for us, cause I can roll it really thin.

One loaf makes 2 pizzas. But I don't always have the loaves on hand...

but I ALWAYS have the rolls...

Mini pizzas anyone?

I take my rolls out about 2 hours before I make dinner...cover with plastic. You don't need it to rise, just thaw. Then flour your counter and roll it out. Since they are so small, they roll out super fast and easy...

I put corn meal on my paddle so they slide off onto the stone easily...

For BBQ chicken, I thinly slice some red onion, then chop up some leftover grilled chicken (rotisserie chicken is delish too) coat in my fav BBQ sauce and heat up before putting on the pizza. I use more BBQ sauce as the pizza sauce. Pepperoni and mozzarella cheese is simply that. I use ragu store bought pizza sauce, it's good.

Then slide them on the preheated pizza stone. I put my stone in, then crank my oven up as hot as it goes (550*). The little ones take about 4 1/2 minutes to cook...how's that for fast?

Pizza anyone?

"cheesy pizza" for Lil D

Pepperoni for Mr. T

BBQ Chicken for me (and Mr. T)

mmmmmmm......