Quick and Delicious Tomato Parmesan snack

Hello friends!

So, I have made this little recipe more than a few times, and especially when losing baby-weight it is a frequent flyer in my kitchen.  So, I thought I’d share with you.  Its very simple, surprisingly filling, and very delicious!  I like to call it, “Tomato Parmesan Delight”.  Have fun!

Cut your tomatoes into generous bite-sized pieces. This was one freakishly large Roma tomato cut into 20 bites.

Depending how hungry you are, you will need 1 large tomato or two smaller tomatoes for one serving.  Cut into bit size pieces.

Here you can see that I cheated and made a foil pan for myself.  Last time I made this I cooked in a glass dish and it was heck trying to get all the baked cheese off.  I’m not all about extra work.  So here I just folded a piece of foil  so it had edges to trap in the tomato juices and baked it on a small baking sheet.  You may want to lightly spray it with cooking spray (olive oil or canola oil is healthiest!) to keep the cheeses from baking on, so you can enjoy as much cheese as possible!

Generously salt (1 tsp at least) your tomatoes, and distribute the desired amount of garlic over the tomatoes.

Salt your tomatoes, with about 1 tsp of salt, give or take.  Tomatoes absorb salt very easily and so I like to be generous with the salt… it really enhances the tomato flavor. Next is Minced Garlic (or powdered if you don’t have minced).  I’d say use 1 TBSP dispersed.  During Cold/Flu season I like to really load up on garlic in my dishes for the anti-bacterial/anti-viral properties.  Garlic is nature’s antibiotic!  So load up!  And cooking it really cooks down the garlic flavor so its not as potent as you might think it will be.  Fresh garlic is going to be more bacteria-fighting than this bottled stuff, but use what you’ve got.

Season your tomatoes with whatever italian seasonings you have on hand, dry or fresh. This was one I picked up at Dollar General for 50 cents.

Next is a little flavoring!  Italian herbs, fresh or dried (I use fresh basil in the summer from my garden!), from basil, oregano, parsley, etc.  Or do what I did and grab a cheap “Italian blend” to make it easy.  Watch the ingredients though that there is not any added salt, or you will be puckering! If yours has added salt in it, just cut out the salting step above.

Top with your favorite cheese! I used an Italian cheese blend here (mozzarella, provolone, asiago) and some fresh Parmesan as well.

I just think everything is better with cheese!  Throw on your fave melty italian cheeses to your pretty little tomatoes and you’re ready to broil it!  A few faves, like listed above, are mozzarella, provolone, asiago, parmesan.

Tomato Delight! Broil in the oven on hi for 6 to 10 minutes, depending how crispetty crunchetty you like your cheese! I did 8 minutes here.

And Ta-Da!  only a few minutes later you have a filling, HEALTHY, delicious snack or meal!

If you’re really hungry, you can toast a couple slices of whole wheat bread, add a slap of butter and your meal is complete.  You can also use this tomato recipe on top of some of your favorite pre-cooked chicken for a quick meal.

If you are short on time and don’t care to have crispy cheese edges, throw it in the microwave for a minute or two, let it cool and devour!  Enjoy it guilt free!

Recipe:

1 Large or 2 small/medium tomatoes, cut into bite size pieces.

1 tsp salt

1 TBSP minced garlic (or 1 tsp powdered)

1 to 2 tsps. Italian spices (basil, oregano, parsley, etc)

1/4 cup shredded italian cheeses. (sprinkle to your heart’s content.  Use any: mozzarella, provolone, asiago, parmesan)

Cut up tomatoes, lay in an oven-safe dish (or microwave safe if you prefer that route).  You may want to spray the dish with non-stick spray first.  Feel free to line with foil.  Sprinkle salt, distribute garlic and spices over tomatoes.  Cover with your selected cheeses, and broil on high for 6 to 12 minutes, depending on your preference of cheese done-ness, or pop into the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.  Let cool a few minutes and enjoy.  Serve with toast on the side if desired, or put on top of seasoned chicken for an easy meal.   Enjoy!

Health Benefits:

Tomatoes: From being rich in anti-oxidants (which fight disease in your body), to helping regulate blood sugar levels, improving vision, and reducing risk of heart troubles, there are so many benefits of tomatoes.  Go here to read the top 10 benefits of tomatoes!

Garlic: This little food is a huge cancer fighter on top of being one of natures antibiotics.  Go here to read about 20 benefits of garlic!

Herbs and Spices: These little flavor-boosters carry not only flavor to your palate, but also deliver a great number of health benefits!  I have read material produce by a very well known doctor (totally can’t remember his name but he has been featured on the 700 Club numerous times) that boosting how much you use herbs and spices (preferably a variety of 12 or more different ones daily including cinnamon, pepper, basil, garlic, simple easy-to-incorporate ones) can rev up your metabolism to fascinating levels, as well as regenerate life in your brain cell production.  Here is a neat chart I found on 400 different herbs and spices and their health benefits.  Have fun reading!