Ricotta & Parmesan Tomatoes #Recipe #healthy

I’ve got some tomatoes already set on my plants (yeah!) and can’t wait for them to ripen so I can have some tomatoes right off the vine. In the meantime, I’ll use the store bought ones to make something really tasty and healthy!

This recipe was inspired by one from Fitness Magazine for Parmesan Tomatoes. I know my recipe adds some calories due to the reduced fat ricotta (about 30 calories per serving), but this will make a nice side dish.

Ricotta & Parmesan Tomatoes

4 Roma Tomatoes, cut in half and cored
1/2 cup reduced fat ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/8 cup chopped fresh basil (or if using dried, 1 tablespoon)
Olive Oil (a few teaspoons to oil the pan)

Place a paper towel in a strainer and let ricotta sit there for about half an hour. This will help draw out the moisture and keep the insides from being so runny.

Preheat oven to 450. Oil baking sheet with olive oil.

Cut Roma tomatoes in half (either way although if you go the short way you may need to take a bit off the bottom for them to stand upright). Oil the tomato bottoms and place on baking sheet.

Mix basil and ricotta. Spoon 1/8 cup into each tomato half. Pepper to taste. I don’t use salt since the parmesan has a ton of it, but you may wish to also salt at this point.

Sprinkle ricotta with parmesan cheese.

Bake at 450 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes or until tomatoes are soft and parmesan is toasty. You may even wish to give it a little broil for that extra caramelization.

For a variation on this theme, try the recipe with some zucchini halves or eggplant. Just one caution on the eggplant, you may have to cook it a little before so that it’s fully cooked.

tomatoricotta

Hooked on Jeremy Wade #ManCandyMonday

Yep, I’m hooked on Jeremy Wade, the host of River Monsters which is available on Animal Planet.

What can I say? I love the blue eyes, his manly features, determination and intelligence! I’m always fascinated by the myths and stories connected to the monsters in the various lakes, rivers, and oceans where Jeremy casts his line in the hopes of discovering the truths behind the myths.

If you’ve ever watched the show, I’d love to hear what you think of it and Jeremy! For more information on Jeremy, you can visit http://www.jeremywade.co.uk/.

Jeremy_Wade

Photo Credit: David Shankbone@en.wikipedia.com

CAPTIVE #Paranormal #Romance Debut

CAPTIVEI’m all out of whack this week! Thought yesterday was Monday! LOL.

We’re doing something a little different today, namely, I want to tell you about my friend’s debut novel which releases on June 4. CAPTIVE is a science fiction/paranormal romance. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of offer up a quote for it!

Here’s a little blurb for CAPTIVE by K.M. Fawcett:

    AN IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY

    The last thing Addy Dawson remembers is a blazing inferno and freezing river water overtaking her lungs. When she awakens, Addy finds herself on a strange, alien planet, trapped in a cell with no doors, no windows– and to her horror– a naked warrior who claims to be her mate.

    AN UNDENIABLE PASSION

    An alpha gladiator, Max is forced to breed and produce the finest specimens for the Survival Race, a deadly blood sport created by the alien rulers of Hyborea. To rebel means torture-or worse-yet Max refuses to become the animal his captors want him to be. But their jailors will not be denied, and soon Addy and Max find themselves unwilling players in this cruel game. Pushed to the limit, they will risk everything for the chance at a life free from captivity. And though fate brought them together as adversaries, Max and Addy will discover that when they’re together, there’s nothing in the universe that can stop them.

K.M. is going to be dropping by later in June to chat with us about the book, but I figured I’d give you a little sneak peek into her work!

Also, if you’re on Facebook, don’t forget to come join me and Kelly Moran for the next installment of Man Wars!

So Many Men, So Little Time. . . #ManCandyMonday

I know you may find this hard to believe, but Man Candy Monday is always a tough day for me. Who to choose as one of our sexy men is a tough job. So this week, we’re going to switch it up a little. For a chance to win a REBORN Vampire Novels T-shirt, take a moment to let me know who is on your list of sexy men!

To get you inspired, let me share a little sexy man candy anyway!

Man Candy Monday

Memorial Day #Military #Sacrifice

I know we are all waiting for Memorial Day. It’s the official start of summer and a long weekend. I love going to the Jersey Shore (which is ready for you!) and hanging out on the beach. Going to the local fairs, festivals and parades. I always make it a point to go to the parades and cheer on our military men, women and families. Drop by the events to honor the fallen and all that they have sacrificed so that we might be free to enjoy the summer, the beach and a long weekend.

So this Memorial day, please try to remember why you are free and who helps protect your Liberty. Honor the fallen and those who are currently serving and their families. They sacrifice so much for us, it’s the least we can do.

And if you want to do more, check out organizations like HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS or WOUNDED WEAR who help our military men, women and families.

MemorialHonor

I’m all out of #love. . .

SINS OF THE FLESH paranormal suspenseLOL! I hope that’s a big NEVER. But I am struggling a bit with which story to share with you today since I’ve got so many irons in the fire. We’re finalizing the publication dates for THE REBORN vampire novel series, talking about a prequel for the series, and my plan is to release the next SIN HUNTERS book in the fall. Sigh. Of course there are those contemporary romances I’m also re-releasing.

So many projects, so little time, but that’s a good thing.

I’ve got an exciting idea for the prequel to THE REBORN which I’m going to pitch but, hint hint, here’s a throwback to the first book in the SINS series, SINS OF THE FLESH, which morphed into the SIN HUNTERS series. You’ll be seeing lots more of the Carrera clan in future books in the series as well as some other unexpected places.

If you can’t see the excerpt below, you can click here.

SINS OF THE FLESH Prequel by Caridad Pineiro