Dexter Themed Night!

Our favorite premium cable show came back on, and like any good pseudo soap-opera Dexter the last season had a killer (pun  intended) ending, and we were dorkily giddy over watching the first two episodes So we decided a fitting theme for this week would be blood. Kinda gross at first consideration, but of course we didn't eat raw meat or anything crazy, we just made red foods, silly.

Pepperoni and Tomato Grilled Cheese

- Bread slices of your choice

- Harvarti with Jalapenos

- Sharp Cheddar

- Pepperoni slices

- 1 slicing tomato

- Butter to coat bread

Directions:  Assemble ingredients on buttered bread and grill like standard grilled cheese in cast-iron pan until golden brown and melted.

Oh, me, oh, my. So spicy, toasty and delicious!

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

• -3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
• -1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil
•  -tablespoon kosher salt
• -1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• -2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
• -6 garlic cloves, minced
• -2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• -1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• -1 (28-ounce) canned plum tomatoes, with their juice
• -4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• -1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• -1 quart chicken stock or water

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss together the tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

In an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot or cold. *Recipe by Ina Gartner

Can't go wrong with good ole' tomato soup! Sure beats the pants of tin-flavored Campbell's!

Bomb Bloody Mary's

• -3 cups tomato juice
• -3 tablespoons lemon juice
• -3 tablespoons lime juice
• -1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
• -1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, or to taste
• -1 teaspoon minced garlic
• -3/4 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste (recommended: Tabasco)
• -3/4 teaspoon salt
• -1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• - 1 shot Vodka per drink
• -String Cheese
• -Pickles
• -Celery
• -Beef Sticks
• - Green olives ( if you're not Sabrina) =)

Directions:

In a blender combine the tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and hot sauce and process until smooth. Transfer to a glass container and add salt and black pepper, to taste. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

When ready to serve, fill each glass with ice.

Almost a meal in themselves, these beastly beauties were delicious ( albeit super filling) accompaniment to our "blood" themed meal. And making your own mix is easy and saves upwards of 900 mg of sodium in a glass. Save yourself the sausage fingers! This turned out to  be one of the best meals we've done in a while.

Next week: Pizza party!!