Italian Toast {Recipe}

You know those light bulb moments that happen every once in a while that make you question who you are? 'Cuz seriously, you can't be THAT smart! I lied. You totally can. I can't though.

Actually, I did once...and that was when I came up with Italian Toast. Can I say that this has been a meal for us, and not just a snack? Not only is it healthy but it has cheese, people. And if you need to know anything about me in this lifetime, is that I am addicted to cheese. Which also means my definition of healthy may contradict the actual definition of that word.

My husband would probably throw in a joke how I'm super "cheesy" right in here {if you've been around for longer than 3 seconds, you've probably caught that.}  I am but not compared to this amazing mozzarella topped wheat bread with tomato and pesto.

Here's what you will need:
- Olive oil, garlic powder & basil seasoning
- 1 small jar of basil pesto {or homemade}
- 1-2 cups chopped tomatoes
- 1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 slices of whole wheat bread {or any kind really. Tastes great on ciriola!}

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Take your bread slices and place them on a baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Drizzle a little olive oil over the slices, then dash on some garlic powder {doesn't take much.}
Spread the basil pesto on the slices and top with tomatoes. Sprinkle the cheese and some basil seasoning.
Bake for about 5-10 min, until the cheese is melted and the edges of the toast are light brown.
Cut into squares or strips and serve!

Man I love being creative in the kitchen.

Do you? Have any recipe posts from this week?
Share the links in the comments, I'd love to see them!

Linking up @

How to Make S'Mores Bars {Recipe}

Happy Monday!
Now, who wants to break their New Year's diet resolution already??

Frankly, I'm pregnant so I can pretty much do what I want...ha! I'm more of a salty/chips snacker but lately my hormones have me craving chocolate like mad. Of course, my handsome prince of a husband LOVES this because then he has an excuse to indulge.

So, I busted out this recipe I've had for a while for S'Mores Bars. S'Mores are my absolute favorite and I knew instantly that this recipe would be my golden ticket to calorie bliss...I mean, chocolate bliss...yea...

Okay, here's what you will need, my friends:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted (plus a little more for the pan)

- 18 graham crackers (about 2 packages)

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

- 3 cups milk chocolate chips

- 3 1/2 cups mini-marshmallows

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom and sides of a 13x9" baking pan with foil. You want to leave about 4in. of overhang over the 2 opposite sides. These will serve as "handles" to remove the bars from the pan in one piece. Grease the foil well with some of the softened butter.

In your food processor, grind the graham crackers into a fine meal (you need 2 cups.) In a large bowl, combine your crumbs with the sugar, sea salt and melted butter. The mixture should look like and feel like wet sand. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping.

Evenly press the rest of the mixture into the bottom of the pan. 

**Note: This took me a little while because you don't want any spaces, or else your crust will be crumbly. I used the back of a small spoon to even and smooth the layer.**

Pop your crust into the oven and bake until it is golden brown, about 12-15 min. Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool on a rack or on a dishtowel on the counter.

Melt the milk chocolate in a saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously until fully melted. Do not turn up the heat to hurry the process!! Keep it on low. You can also microwave your chocolate on low power, stirring after 2 min.

Preheat the broiler, low setting.

**Note: I never used my broiler before this and didn't know there were two settings. Yikes! I almost burnt the crud out of my bars! Besides the nice smokey smell in the air and the lovely music from the fire alarm (which made puppy girl's ears go CRAZY btw), the bars did not burn. Phew!**

Pour the melted chocolate over the cooked crust. Spread it evenly with a butter knife or back of a spoon. Sprinkle the marshmallows over the chocolate and press them lightly into it. Sprinkle or lightly press the reserved crumb mixture over and in between the marshmallows, so that no chocolate shows through.

Broil the bars 6 in. from the flame until the marshmallows are golden brown (not coal black like mine hehe) Should take 1-2min.

Refrigerate the bars until the chocolate is hard, about 2 hrs or so. Grab the ends of the foil and lift the bars out of the pan in one piece. Place on cutting board and cut into 24 squares. Wala!! Eat up & enjoy!!

-------------------------------

Just a reminder, there is a giveaway going on that will end tonight at midnight!! ENTER IF YOU WANT TO WIN THIS FREE 5X7 ART PRINT:

There's only one entry so far...that's not much of a competition ya'll!

It's FREE so what have you got to lose?

Click on the photo of here for details.