Gleanings of Wheat

Another simple, delicious dish from Giada ; I served this up with a side of angel hair pasta topped with evoo and basil. 1 loaf baguette, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices (about 30 to 36 slices) 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 5 Roma tomatoes, sliced 1 1/4 pounds fresh mozzarella, sliced 1 bunch fresh basil leaves, stemmed Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Arrange the sliced baguette bread on a baking sheet. Brush with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven. Top each slice of bread with a slice of tomato and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each slice of tomato with a slice of mozzarella and sprinkle with salt. Return the baking sheet to the oven until the cheese and tomato are warmed, about 5 minutes. Arrange the toasts on a serving platter. Top each toast with a basil leaf. Using the brush, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the basil. Sprinkle with salt ...

I'm not sure where I got this recipe. I think it may have been in a Walgreens flyer or something. At any rate it was quite good. See below for my subsitutions. 3 tbsp evoo 2 tbsp lime juice 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro 1/3 tsp salt 1 chopped head romaine lettuce 2 diced medium tomatoes 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, & sliced 1 lb cooked chicken breasts, shredded 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced salt & black pepper to taste Whisk together oil, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper into a small bowl. Combine lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber in a large bowl. Toss with half the dressing and season to taste with salt & pepper. Toss chicken with 1 tbsp of remaining dressing, add to salad. Top with avocado & more dressing. ** Notes: I didn't have a cucumber or cilantro in the house so I skipped the cucumber and replaced the cilantro with a basil & oregano mixture. I also used lemon juice in place of the lime juice and I grilled the chicken.

This makes a great main dish, but definitely could function as a side as well...which is actually what I usually use it for. HUGE hit in my house. I found it over at Love and Olive Oil who found it over at Epicurious . Enjoy. 1/2 seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice 1-1/2 large (7-inch) pita loaves, cut into bite sized pieces 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste 1 garlic clove, minced 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice 1 tomato, chopped fine 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves In a sieve sprinkle the cucumber with a pinch of salt, let it drain for 20 minutes, and pat it dry. While the cucumber is draining, in a baking pan bake the pita pieces in the middle of a preheated 325°F oven, shaking the pan occasionally, for 18 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp, and let them cool slightly. In a large bowl whisk together the oil, the lemon juice, the garlic, and the salt an...