What I Ate: #ToastedTuesday Sourdough with Ricotta, Arugula, & Bacon

What I Ate’ is a series of posts for so-easy-this-doesn’t-need-a-recipe but I’m sharing with you for the idea or inspiration.

Ohh this is the stuff savory breakfasts are made of! Bacon. Arugula. Ricotta. Sourdough bread. I loved every bit of this and iiiiif you can’t get on board with this as breakfast, at least plan for this to be your next crostini appetizer, light lunch, or too-hot-to-cook dinner.
The Three Bite Rule - Arugula Toast with Bacon
My new realization for good toast is the special & fancy bread. I found this sourdough square loaf uncut but was cheaper than some of the others prob because it requires slicing myself. The bacon is your salty, and necessary. Arugula is the peppery and the fresh part. Ricotta is the most underrated cheese that seems to only survive in people’s lasagna. I like it cool & spread on toast but cream cheese could go here if that’s your preference.

Ricotta, Arugula, & Bacon Toast

Ingredients: (for 1 serving)

2 slices bacon
1 slice sourdough bread
2 tablespoons ricotta
1-2 cups baby arugula
1 teaspoon balsamic dressing

Directions:

Chop the bacon into small pieces and pan fry until crispy.
While the bread is toasting, toss the arugula in the dressing.
Spread the ricotta onto the bread, top with arugula, and sprinkle the bacon on top.

The Three Bite Rule - Arugula Toast with Bacon
Mr. J’s birthday burger is next. Stay tuned!!

What I Ate: #ToastedTuesday Burrata, Pesto & Tomato

What I Ate’ is a series of posts for so-easy-this-doesn’t-need-a-recipe but I’m sharing with you for the idea or inspiration.

More toast! I’m challenging myself to come up with more interesting toast toppers for June, thus, #ToastedTuesday ! With the weather warming, these are great meal ideas beyond breakfast…despite my quest for different breakfasts every day! I went savory and for this breakfast, I’d totally eat this for lunch or dinner! It is practically summer! Eat all the basil/pesto!
The Three Bite Rule - Burrata, Pesto, Tomato Toast

There aren’t really local tomatoes around these New England parts yet, but I’m chomping at the bit for gooooood tomatoes. Mine were fine, but I’m glad the burrata was steller and the pesto was addictive!

Italian Toast with Burrata, Pesto, & Tomato

Ingredients: (for 2)

2 slices of good bread
2 tablespoons pesto
1 tomato, sliced thin
1 small burrata ball (or fresh mozzarella)

Directions:

Toast the bread to your likeness.
Spread on the pesto and sliced tomatoes. Then slice the burrata and place on top of the toast.
Sprinkle with pepper & kosher salt and serve immediately.

The Three Bite Rule - Burrata, Pesto, Tomato Toast

Ohh yes. This is the perfect way to start the day. Burrata is softer and filled with a luscious cream for a gooey center. It is perfectly mild and creamy to contrast the pesto and crunchy toast. I was surprised to find it at the grocery store, but can’t wait for the farmer’s market go get it from local cheese folks.

I thought the salt was necessary and used a rosemary seasoned salt. This felt special, despite it taking only 2 minutes to make. Go ahead! Make a Wednesday special!

(today is Mr. J’s birthday so stay tuned for his special Birthday Burger! We’re on year 6 of this tradition: here are the years past, get caught up!  Happy happy birthday to my always-taste-tester!!)

What I Ate: #ToastedTuesday – Strawberry & Nutella Toast

What I Ate’ is a series of posts for so-easy-this-doesn’t-need-a-recipe but I’m sharing with you for the idea or inspiration.

I know, I know, I know. You do not need me for this. BUT, maybe you need breakfast inspiration? Or you have that overflowing and want to give ME ideas? Yes, I’ll take ’em all. I had lots of crazy toast toppings as ideas on my running food list and figured I’d challenge myself to making some. Welcome to Toasted Tuesdays! Ta-da!

They’re only getting more intense so please stay tuned…even if you’re thinking 2 toppings does not a-toast-make.
The Three Bite Rule - Strawberry Nutella Toast

Strawberry Nutella Toast

Ingredients:

1 slice good quality wheat toast
2 tablespoons nutella
2-3 ripe strawberries
sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

Toast the bread, slice the berries, and assemble with a schmear of nutella, slices of strawberries, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
The Three Bite Rule - Strawberry Nutella Toast
Enjoy!

What goes on your toast (besides avo, duhh)? This feels like dessert because it is sweet for sure. The strawberries were like the jelly for this toast. I looooove nutella so I wanted to start there. Strawberries have been suuuuper cheap lately, and the little one loves “strawbies” so we’ve had them a lot.

#toastedtuesday is here for June, stay tuned! Annnd tell me all your fav toasts. There’ll be fun cheeses, maybe some nuts, maybe more berries, possibly pesto, just. you. wait!

Restaurant Recreation: Bfast Tots Hash

Lulu’s Allston has this so decadent White Trash Hash that is tots, topped with braised short ribs, hollandaise, with poached eggs. It came in a close 2nd place at a brunch battle event and I totally thought it should have won. I recreated at home during my mini stay-cation. A day home alone calls for brunch, with a 2nd cup of coffee. The pups watched me take my plate out and must have been thinking: ‘what, the heck is going on?’ or ‘can I have some?’. I made a cheesy sauce since it is easy to make a small amount.

The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Hash
Sooo good! Using the toaster oven made it surprisingly quick. My eggs weren’t 100% perfect but a bit runny. They’re the most testy part of putting this together. Mr. J is suuuper skilled at pealing soft boiled eggs. I am not. I use a metal insert for poaching eggs- which takes a bit of practice. I’m getting there.

Bfast Tot Hash (for 2)

Ingredients:

2 cups tator tots
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon butter
2 eggs

Directions:

Bake the tots until very crispy. (I popped mine in the toaster oven on broil so they only took 15 minutes.)
In a small sauce pan over medium low heat, mix together the milk and cream cheese until melted and whisks smoothly – about 5 minutes. Then whisk in the cheese and butter.
The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Hash
While the cheese sauce cooks, poach or soft boil the eggs.  (poach in water = ~3 minutes; poach in insert= ~4 minutes; soft boil= ~5 minutes)
Lay the tots on plates, then drizzle cheese sauce, top with the egg, another drizzle of cheese sauce, and salt & pepper.
The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Hash
Poke that yolk and enjoy!

Mini Fruit Tarts

I’m back! I’ve resurfaced for air now that work is quieting down. Phew! I made these cute buggers back for Easter, and I took a little shortcut to make them even easier. I used sugar cookie dough for the bottom and it made them come together so quickly! I baked the cookie base the night before and whipped up the pastry cream. The Three Bite Rule - Mini Fruit Tarts

Sugar Cookie Fruit Tarts

Ingredients:

refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon light colored jelly (apricot, marmalade, apple, peach)

Directions:

Warm the milk over medium low heat until it steams, but doesn’t boil.
Whisk together the sugar, flour, salt and egg yolks into a paste.  (I used a stand mixer.) Add in a little of the milk and keep mixing. Pour in the rest of the milk slowly while mixing.
Pour it back into the pot and warm over low. Stir while it cooks and thickens. Don’t let it boil!
Spoon through a mesh strainer to strain any lumps out.
Refrigerate at least an hour, or until ready to serve. Lay a piece of plastic wrap ontop of the pastry cream so the top doesn’t form a pudding skin.
Bake the cookie into cups by pressing into muffin tin cups. Allow to cool then spoon the pastry cream into the cookie cups.
The Three Bite Rule - Mini Fruit Tarts
Top with berries or sliced fruit.
The Three Bite Rule - Mini Fruit Tarts
Then, brush with some jelly, microwaved for 10 seconds.
The Three Bite Rule - Mini Fruit Tarts
So cute! The pastry cream is light and tasty. I was glad for the cookie crunch and a little fruit for freshness. They’re cute as mini cups but would be pretty in a springform or tart pan.

I made these for Easter brunch along with Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Everything Bagel Bake. These worked well together since I had egg whites left from the pastry cream!