Easy Tomato Bruschetta (inspired by the movie "Julie and Julia")

I like the movie "Julie and Julia", maybe it's a bit of inspiration for my entire blog. I know it's the inspiration for one item on a bucket list, to cook my way through an entire cookbook. I won't be cooking my way through Julie Child's book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". I love french cooking, but I do not want to commit myself to an entire aspic chapter. Ugh.

I do have one more inspiration from that movie however. Early on there is a scene where Julie and her husband are eating the most amazing tomato bruschetta for dinner. The movie shows Julie frying the bread before serving. I've watched the movie a couple of times recently and was just craving the bruschetta they gushed over.

I created this very easy recipe simply from what Julie's looked like. It may not be their recipe at all. But it is delicious, quick, and simple.

EASY TOMATO BRUSCHETTA

INGREDIENTS

Fresh tomato, diced, the fresher the better, it is the entire basis of the flavor in the recipe

Fresh basil, thinly sliced

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt to taste

Sourdough baguette

Butter

Olive oil

Parmesan

1)Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl and set aside so the flavors can meld.

2) Slice the baguette and butter one side. Fry in a pan with some olive oil.

3) Pile the tomato mixture on each slice of fried bread. Top with a little shaved Parmesan if desired. 

That's it! Sever and eat! So good! 

I had it by itself for dinner. More commonly it is served as an appetizer. Or you can have it with a nice piece of cooked fish, chicken, or beef with a green salad and have a complete meal. 

You can also add all kinds of things to this recipe; crushed garlic, a little balsamic vinegar, shredded tarragon, finely chopped olives, a few capers, ground pepper, parsley, or whatever you think works. Go wild. Be crazy. The best bruschetta I've had lately was strawberries and kumquats with mint and goat cheese on a rustic whole grain bread. It was absolutely amazing.

Strawberry Kumquat Bruschetta from Thomas Hill Organics

Pottery, piece 2

My second pottery piece

Here is my second pottery piece ever. I started it the same day as my first piece. Recently I threw down for the first time. I think that's the proper way to say I used the pottery wheel. That definitely takes some talent and skill. I have way more appreciation now for the handmade pottery I see. I started okay, but somehow always managed to dig a finger in too deep. I'd get this deep groove or gauge in the pottery that I couldn't figure out how to work out. Time and practice, I'm sure that is the key.

I've glazed the two thrown pieces I made and left them to be fired. I will post pictures soon.

Pottery

For about three months now I've been going to hang out with a friend on Friday nights at a local pottery studio. Oh my wild party life.

I've never done pottery before in my life, but it's fun. A lot like being a kid playing with playdough. I always loved playdough. My first two pieces were trays. You cut a chunk of clay out of a block of clay and roll it flat through a press. Then you mold the clay into a form. On my pieces, I stamped designs. After they dried, and when I could finally make it back to the studio, I painted each piece. I left them to be fired. I do wonder if the glaze I used gives it the high gloss finish just by being fired. You would never know to look at the unfired item to know what the finished product will look like. Unfired they are dull, porous, and not glossy at all. Here is my very first piece.