I’m trying. I’m really trying BUT in the winter I need comfort food.

So I took my summer salad and changed it to be a winter meal.

Two containers of grape tomatoes

One sliced onion

One chopped red pepper

4 cloves of chopped garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

8  tablespoons oil

12 big fresh basil leaves

One seeded jalopeno pepper (optional)

1 Kaiser roll cut into cubes

One cubed roasted garlic french stick

10 slices lean dime size cut ham

10 slices  dime size cut Genoa salami

1/3 pound dime size cut mozzarella cheese

6 slices  muenster cheese

6 slices provolone cheese

8 slices  American cheese

Sliced banana peppers  and olives for garnish

Two handfuls of greens

I liked arugula and spinach with diced red onion

Mix the tomatoes, onion, garlic , garlic powder, oil, red pepper, salt, oregano, cubed bread and optional jalopeno together

Bake in a 425 degree oven till the tomatoes have blistered about 15 minutes. Stir once to mix everything.

Add ham and salami for another ten minutes

Let cool for five minutes then add the cheeses and fresh basil

Put all your greens plus the red onion in a dish and top with a balsamic dressing lightly.

Spoon three or four heaping spoonfuls of warm salad on the greens.

Garnish with the banana peppers and olives.

Try very hard not to eat all of it.

This is also great leftover as a special treat for lunch.

**Cook tips

The bread absorbs the tomato juice and oil when it is cooked so make sure you stir the cooked tomatoes before you put it on the greens. This toasted bread is so delicious.

Published by cmangoff

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