Foodie Friday...Finger Food

It's already Friday again...wow, the days are going fast! Gollum is hosting a Foodie Friday Finger Food Party! If you've been looking for some appetizers, this is sure to be the place to find it!

Beloved has been feeling a little neglected lately with all the wedding planning going on. We've had more than a few nights of takeout. Now, Beloved is a Foodtv junkie and recently called my attention to two recipes on one of Rachel Ray's 30-minute meal episodes. I decided a little pampering in the form of a special meal might soothe his wounded feelings. I had also found a recipe in last month's Southern Living that I was dying to try. First, the finger food!

I bought some tomatoes this week from a truck on the side of the road--actually it was a busy six lane city street, but the idea is the same. I know that these are probably still hot house tomatoes, but still much better than the grocery store variety. Our plants are still in the bloom stage, but I am planning on needing lots of tomato recipes. This Fresh Herb-Tomato Crostini sounded like something we would love! Sure enough--it was a hit. The feta cheese adds a different unexpected flavor to the mixture . To make this: Toast thinly sliced French bread slices brushed with olive oil and crushed garlic. Mix finely chopped tomato (I recommend draining them), chopped green onions, chopped parsley, chopped mint, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. I think you can do this to taste in the amounts you like. Spoon the mixture on top of the toasted bread and top with feta cheese. I think this will be a favorite this summer!

So, since I had the tomatoes, I decided another night to try Rachel's Puttanesca Tomato Salad. This is yummy and so fresh and light! Her recipe does not include the salad greens, but I served it on romaine. Her recommendation was to serve Florentine Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken with this.

I love spinach and pine nuts, especially together. We enjoyed it, but I have to admit that I filed this in the "Things I Don't Want Again Soon" file. The prosciutto was a little overpowering to me. Beloved liked it, but likes a recipe I do with regular ham just as well. I will definitely mix the pine nuts and spinach again though. Both of these recipes can be found at http://www.rachaelray.com/food_results.php?query=florentine%20prosciutto%20chickens .They are part of her Thirty Minute Meal recipes---it did take us about 30minutes to eat it---to prepare it.....a little longer :) I even set the table with a little more flourish to make Beloved feel special! I posted the entire setting and his red, white, and blue pafait on yesterday's post for Susan's Tablescape Thursday. I think it was a success. We tried new recipes, had some really good tomatoes, and Beloved feels all warm and fuzzy from the special treatment! Click on the Foodie Friday button for more recipes with our friend Michael! Have a good weekend and Happy Memorial Day!