Bite into My Baked Feta!

Baked Feta,Tomatoes & Peppers

This is a great dairy dish to serve as an appetizer with a chunk of bread and nice cocktail, or as a side dish. When you bake the Feta the dense natural consistency of the Feta  changes to a light, fluffy and creamy cheese. I am not picky with the brand or quality of the Feta Cheese, when it's baked with these ingredients it is a luscious treat.

Ingredients:

Feta Cheese 1 block (mine was 8 ounces could be larger)

12 Cherry tomatoes halved

1/2 Bell Pepper  red , orange or yellow  1/2" cubed

2 Sprigs of Thyme leaves removed

2 Tablespoons chopped Parsley

1 Garlic Clove grated

1/2 a Lemon zest & juice 

Olive Oil

1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Drizzle a little olive oil on the bottom of an oven ready baking dish . I use a square dish that is only a few inches larger that the block of Feta. Place Feta cheese in dish and drizzle the top of Feta with olive oil about a tablespoon.

In a mixing bowl combine tomatoes, peppers, Thyme, Parsley, Garlic, Lemon zest, 2 Tablespoons Olive oil, Crushed red pepper flakes, Salt & Pepper.

Pour mixture over and around feta Cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes, then broil for 5 minutes to get the nice brown charring.

Remove from oven and squeeze the half of lemon over top.

This is going to be a favorite go to recipe!

Enjoy!!!

Grab a Granola Bar!

Date & Nut Granola Bars

This is a delicious soft and chewy granola bar, inspired by my Great find #1 The pressed pitted dates. I use a bunch of natural sweets and nuts to make this healthy ,energizing delicious snack.  

Ingredients: 1/3 cup Almonds,1/3 cup pecans, 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds. 1/2  cup raw pumpkin seeds, 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds, 2 cups Oatmeal (quick oats or Old fashion), 1/4 cup unsweetened flake coconut, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 cup pressed pitted dates a chunk about 1.5"X 1.5"X 3", or pitted dates packed into measuring cup, 1/4 cup Turkish dried apricots, 3 strips dried mango, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 cup honey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees,

Line an 8"X 8" square baking pan with parchment paper, so that the bars are easy to remove. use two pieces overlapping each other so the paper lays flat and the bars come out neat.

Coarsely chop almonds and pecans!

In a large bowl combine sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, oatmeal, coconut, cinnamon , salt and chopped almonds and pecans.

In a food processor pulse pulled apart dates, Turkish apricots and dried mango till griddy consistency. Slowly drizzle in about half the honey or until it is a moist paste.

Scoop date paste mixture into bowl with oat mixture , add the rest of the honey and the vanilla. Mix together well till all the dry oat mixture is coated. Press mixture into prepared baking dish. 

Bake for 25 minutes till top is golden brown. 

Let cool , remove from pan and cut into squares.  These are 1.5" X 1.5".

I like to wrap each square in plastic wrap, keeps it fresh and you can just grab bar and go.

Wrap some up in parchment paper , to share with special friends!