Carrabba's Bread Dipping Mix

On a recent Italian dinner at home, I got ambitous while searching Pinterest for some inspiration and came across...a copycat recipe of Carrabba's Bread Dipping Mixture. Carrabba's is one restaurant we love and miss dearly as the closest one is likely hundreds of miles away!

I meticulously followed the directions from the recipe on Pinterest and the recipe was a huge hit! It really did taste like I was dipping bread while sitting at Carrabba's! I accompanied the dip (which is served with extra virgin olive oil drizzled on top), with a loaf of French Bread by Pillsbury. It is our favorite type of bread in the dairy fridge.

Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Spices
Source: www.recipelink.com
Makes 1/4 cup

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried basil (or 1 tbsp. fresh-if using fresh reduce parsley to 1 tbsp.)
1/8 tsp. dried rosemary (or 1/2 tsp. fresh)
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (or 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes)
1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/8 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Place all ingredients except olive oil & lemon in a blender or food processor and chop until all ingredients are similar in size. Stir in the olive oil & lemon juice.
For Serving:
In a small dish, place 1 1/2 tsp. spice mixture. Pour 3-4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil over top of the spice mixture. Serve with french bread for dipping.

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon Chips & Fruit Salsa

While home for the holidays, my mother-in-law had made this Fruit Salsa & Cinnamon Chips recipe which I thought was amazing, so I decided to make it for our friends at the cabin for NYE.

It was super easy and takes about 20 minutes total!

First, cut flour tortillas into wedges...brush on some butter and dust with some a cinnamon- white sugar mixture. Bake for 10 minutes or less at 350 degrees.

Next, dice up the fruit in tiny pieces for a nice mixture. I altered it from my mother-in-law's recipe - based on my grocery store availability. I combined one golden delicious apple, blackberries, raspeberries, and strawberries. Complete the fruit with two tbsp of brown sugar to help marinate the salsa and bring out the juices and flavors.

Serve warm chips with fresh salsa and enjoy!  

A {very} Happy Thanksgiving

We have so many blessings to be thankful for this year. As we reflected at our dinner table of 2, er, 3...we enjoyed thinking about how much our world has changed since last Thanksgiving. The day we learned of our growing family. We are thankful for:

• Jeremy's new job that has taken us on quite the adventure
• Our new home that we love and enjoy
• Our health
• Jeremy's award trip to Hawaii in March
• The birth of Miss L
• The constant, loving support from our families

Our Thanksgiving day was spent exactly how we had hoped - woke up to the aroma of cinnamon bread baking in the bread machine, watched the parade with Miss L STARING at the TV in delight and amusement, Mommy & Miss L went for a walk/jog outside, watched lots of football, enjoyed appetizers then a traditional feast, followed by dessert from The Cheesecake Factory.

Our appetizer spread included a Cheese Tray with some aged white cheddar, gorgonzola and parm-reggiono (sp?), bacon-wrapped potato bites, crab-stuffed mushrooms and blue cheese filled baby reds.

Our dinner feast was complete with these beautiful, hand-made place cards from our sitter and Alexis. I just love how crafty and creative people can be! See below for some photos...

I love  some gorgonzola and honey on a cracker!

Blue cheese stuffed baby reds

Crab-stuffed Mushrooms - surprisingly, Jeremy's favorite app of the day!

Our Feast

Placecards

Our biggest blessing - Miss L

 P.S. - we are super thankful for the record-breaking high temperatures on Thanksgiving, and the fact that the 3" of snow received on Saturday melted already! Yay!