Grilled Flatbread Pizzas

image via Epicurious

Looking for something fun to try this Independence Day? Consider these delicious flatbread pizzas:

• Grilled Flatbread with Caramelize Onion, Sausage, and Manchego Cheese via Epicurious

• Grilled Flatbread with Ricotta, Fresh Tomatoes, and Oregano via Food Network

• Grilled Flatbread Hummus Pizzas via Tribe Hummus

{Food} Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake

Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake via One Hungry Mama

Growing up Italian, I’ve always eaten ricotta cheese, but I’ve discovered that not everyone loves it as much as I do. However, baking with ricotta is amazing because it adds moisture to a cake and lightens it up without changing the flavor.

If you’re looking for a nice treat this weekend, try out this Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake recipe from One Hungry Mama’s blog. You could also try it by replacing the lemon with orange or even almond extract for a new twist

{Food} Baked Brie with Blackberry Compote

baked brie image via Brown Eyed Baker

I’m pretty sure my food pyramid has an entire section devoted to ‘Things to Put on Crackers’. This one may be my new favorite. Baked Brie with Blackberry Compote from Brown Eyed Baker is perfect for a small group and can easily be altered with raspberries or even chopped up strawberries.

{Food} Brie and Apple Crostini

Brie & Apple Crostini photo via ThoughtfullySimple.com

Brie and apple is one of my favorite food combinations. A good salty brie with a crisp apple like a Gala or Fuji tastes so good together. Thoughtfully Simple has an excellent recipe for these two ingredients together as an appetizer in her Apple and Brie Crostini recipe.

In a pinch you could simplify this by omitting the nuts and honey, but they add a nice touch to the presentation.

{Food Friday} Acorn Squash Mac and Cheese

Acorn Squash Mac & Cheese, step-by-step (WYWU photo)

I made this a few weeks ago, thanks to a wonderful friend who shared the recipe. It was inspired by a How Sweet Eats recipe, but we simplified the process and replaced the cheeses with ones that were more accessible to us.

Ingredients

• 1 lb cut pasta, such as penne or elbows
• 1 acorn squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• olive oil
• kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 cup vegetable stock
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pot.
2. Heat another big pot over medium-low heat. Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil, then add squash, some salt and pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir well.
3. Pour in vegetable stock, stir again, cover and cook until squash is falling apart (20-30 minutes). When done, turn heat off. Mash squash mixture with potato masher.
4. Add milk. Stir well. Add both cheese, a little at a time, while stirring constantly.
5. Pour squash mixture over pasta. Stir really really well and serve!

{Food Friday} Spicy Pear Chutney

Spicy Pear Chutney & Swiss Sandwich photo via Typographie Vintage

One of my favorite fashion bloggers, Liz from Typographie Vintage, recently wrote a recipe for this delicious and simple pear chutney (with a bit of spice coming from the Asian condiment Sriracha). She then paired it with Swiss cheese to make a great vegetarian sandwich. I’m not a fan of Swiss cheese, so I plan to eat this with Brie on a warm bagel.

If you aren’t interested in a spicy chutney, you could omit the Sriracha and be left with a sweet topping for burgers, grilled cheese, or even ice cream.

{Food Friday} Quesadillas

buffalo chicken quesadilla photo via MyFaveFinds.com

Quesadillas are my favorite go-to food when I need a quick homemade meal. I love traditional ingredients (beans and cheese) but sometimes I want to try something a little more creative. Here are some suggestions:

Meat Options:

• Smoked Turkey, Apple, and Cheddar Quesadillas – via Oprah.com
• Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas – via My Fave Finds

Meat-Free Options:

• Greek Quesadillas with Spinach and Feta Cheese – via Tasty Kitchen
• Peanut Butter, Strawberry, and Banana Quesadillas – via Surf & Sunshine
• Sweet Potato Quesadillas via Barbara Kingsolver’s AnimalVegetableMiracle.com

{Food Friday} Magical Breakfasts

Overnight French Toast photo via TheComfortofCooking.com

• Overnight Cinnamon-Vanilla French Toast – the wonderful thing about this recipe is that most of the work is done while you sleep!

• Eggs in a Frame – also called toad in a hole, this recipe from The American Table is a nice way to mix up the traditional fried eggs and toast.

• Simple Crepes – a French favorite, these super thin pancakes can be filled with sweet or savory items and folded over to be served like enchiladas.

• Scrambled Eggs with Avocado, Onion, and Cheddar – this recipe from Epicurious.com has some added nutrition (avocados have healthy monounsaturated fats).