Bread, Cheese, Ham, and Jam.

I should probably stop entering blog giveaways. But I won't. So...yeah. Nevermind.

Today was a culinarily ambitious day. This morning I woke up and immediately ran to PCC to buy some pretty awesome ingredients for today's lunch. Ready for it? Tomato gazpacho (from Martha Stewart, modified by moi) and grilled mozzarella, prosciutto, and fig jam sandwiches (from my Grilled Cheese cookbook).

I started the gazpacho this morning before church, because it needed a chance to chill. I pureed the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, a dab of pesto, and fresh rosemary and put it in a glass container to chill in the fridge.

On the way HOME from church, I suddenly recalled that I had forgotten to both add and even PURCHASE a key ingredient for the gazpacho: tomato juice. Otherwise it's just pureed tomato fluff.

Raced to the grocery store, bought the juice, and headed home to save the soup.

The soup was saved (never fear) and as my parents arrived home I started the sandwiches. Ciabatta rolls layered with the cheese, ham, and jam. Lightly buttered on the outside, then set on a hot griddle and weighted down with a cast-iron skillet so that they get flatter, crunchier, and more delicious.

The sandwiches were pure heaven. The gazpacho? I wasn't a fan, but my mom LOVED it. So it just goes to show you, preferences are alive and active in my household. We ate outside under the canopies still set up from our yard sale yesterday and enjoyed the sunshine. It was a lovely day.

Tonight I made a very special treat...which I can't divulge, because I'm bringing them to work tomorrow. And I don't know if anyone from work reads the blog, but on the off chance they do...I don't want to ruin it. Suffice to say, they're really good. I hope they're even better after sitting overnight. :)

My parents are watching Julie & Julia downstairs, so I'll say in closing...

"Bon Appetit!"

-The GLS