Caprese Crostini & Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe

My daughter’s girlfriend moved across the country. A recent college graduate who is putting her faith in herself and taking that huge leap. I commend her.

For all the young adults who put themselves on the list – for those individuals who learn early on that to pursue their dreams is not only a love note to self but also a love note to their family, they get it…

They get that they are worth the journey, worth the effort, worth the energy, no matter how gritty their trek, no matter how twisty the road…which brings me to our oldest child, Lauren. Lauren (aka Lucy) is doing just that…

She. Is. Trekking!

Lucy was a motivated little girl with a dream…a very big, very real, dream. A very big, very real, goal – to work in a field which would allow her to share her artistic expressions. Whether through her music, her photography, her acting, or any combination of the three, it was going to happen, and for Luc, it needed to be in the city that never sleeps…

Guess what? She hasn’t slept in ten months! After graduating from college, she made her way… Lucy lives and works in the Big Apple. She is taking one day at a time and moving along in a fashion that is all her own. Her outer life is a true reflection of her inner life. YES!

She understands that the road might be bumpy and the challenges great, but if she doesn’t try now, if she doesn’t run toward her calling, she’d be running away from it…and that’s not Lucy! Yeah, she’s cool like that.

So… to every parent whose child is pursuing their goals, designing their journey, and living their dreams – Bravissimo!

We are so blessed to have a front row seat! There is no better show in town!

Here’s to you, Lucy! We love you!

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

This calls for something fancy…I mean this girl has fancy nosh written all over her!

I’m thinking Caprese Crostini with a side of Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe…

Caprese Crostini

Okay…it must be said, and you can quote me…

Every great meal begins with a little piece of bread and butter.

Then, to take that little piece of bread and butter and toast it into a simple little crostini….Heavens…

Crostini

Ingredients

1 large baquette sliced into 1/3 inch-thick slices

6 tbsp. unsalted butter at room temperature

Directions

Place the rack in the upper third of the oven and turn on broiler.

Spread both sides of the bread with butter.

Arrange slices on a baking sheet and broil for about 1 minute on each side until golden brown.

Caprese Topping

Ingredients

2 dozen cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, lengthwise

Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

8 oz. fresh mozzarella cut into little pieces

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into chiffonade

Directions

In a medium bowl, toss together the tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.

Pile the tomatoes and mozzarella pieces onto each crostini.

Garnish each with fresh basil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Pomodoro = Tomato

Mozzarella = Mozzarella

Basilico = Basil

Delizioso!!! = Delicious!!!

Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe

Could an appetizer be any simpler?

Ingredients

1 cantaloupe

10 – 15 slices of prosciutto

Directions

Peel and slice the cantaloupe into 1/2-inch semi-circle slices.

Wrap a slice of prosciutto around each wedge and arrange on a platter.

Cantalupo = Cantaloupe

Prosciutto = Prosciutto

Mangia!!!! = Eat!!!!

 

Buon Compleanno, Sweeta!!! = Happy Birthday, Lucy!!!