Grab a Pencil...

...and your grocery list.

You will want to write this down, trust me.

I got this recipe from my aunt Cheri. Cheri is a fantastic cook who can come up with recipes on the fly that turn out amazingly.

I want to be her when I grow up.

This weekend she and my uncle were visiting and she made the most amazing concoction. She didn't have a name for it, but I quickly dubbed it Bruschetta in a Bowl. Because that's exactly what it tastes like.

So if you are a fan of bruschetta, you'll love this.

First, grab your prettiest bowl, some cherry tomatoes, and basil. How much tomato and basil depends on how much you like, I suppose. I had - maybe - two cups of tomatoes and a cup of fresh basil.


Cut the tomatoes in half and chop the basil, and put it in the bowl. Add a bag of your favorite croutons.


In a separate bowl measure approximately 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup olive oil. (You can use a bit less vinegar if you're not as big of a balsamic nut as I am.) Add salt and pepper to taste, and a clove or two of minced garlic. Whisk it all together...


...then pour over the croutons, tomatoes, and basil.

Finally, add some grated parmesan to the top, and stir it all together.

Oh, my.

After a couple of hours, the croutons will be deliciously soggy-ish with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil. And you will want to dive into those croutons, eat the whole thing, and lick the bowl clean.


Don't ask me how I know that.