This
time of year we're harvesting tomatoes from our garden faster than we can eat
them in salads. I freeze a batch every week too. But this is a casserole I
created (recipe is in Caprice De Luca mystery #2,
DEADLY DECOR) just for this time of year. If you like the taste of pizza and would appreciate a dish
a little healthier without the bread, this one is for you!
Nikki's Baked Tomatoes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prep time—15 to 20 minutes
(This always depends on how much you enjoy the process of handling ingredients. Some cooks rush through prep, others put on
music and enjoy chopping and measuring!)
Bake time—60 minutes
Serves 6-8 as a side dish
2-1/2 lbs tomatoes–washed, cored and sliced about 1/4"
thick (I like to use large tomatoes)
1 medium onion thinly sliced 1/8" thick
2 teaspoons oregano (You will use half and then the other
half later.)
1 clove garlic, grated
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1 tablespoon sugar (You will use half and then the other
half later.)
1/2 teaspoon pepper (You will use half and then the other
half later.)
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (You will use half and then
the other half later.)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin olive oil
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz. bag)
1/3 cup Italian style bread crumbs (I use Progresso.)
Layer 1/2 of the sliced tomatoes in 8"x12" glass
casserole. Spread 1/2 of onion over
first half. Then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon oregano, all of the grated garlic, 1
teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan
cheese. Layer remainder of tomatoes and
onion. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, 1
teaspoon sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon of oregano. Drizzle with olive oil. Cover with foil.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
Remove casserole from oven.
Carefully spoon out excess
liquid. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan,
then mozzarella cheese and bread crumbs.
Put the casserole back in oven at 350 degrees uncovered for 20 more minutes until bread crumbs are toasty brown.
After removing, allow the dish to sit for five minutes
before serving.
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NOW AVAILABLE
DRAPE EXPECTATIONS, book 4
Caprice De Luca's former client and now friend Ace Richland--an 80's rock star--asks her for a favor. Can she quickly stage his girlfriend's house to sell? Widow Alanna Goodwin, a transplanted Southern beauty, will be moving in with him! Immediately Caprice realizes Alanna's southern charm can be turned on and off at will. Caprice agrees to stage Alanna's Kismet antebellum-styled mansion for Ace's sake. But she soon learns Alanna doesn't have a genuine love for her cat Mirabelle and also uncovers a plot her new client is hatching to sabotage Ace's comeback. However, before she can tell Ace, Alanna is murdered and Ace is the prime suspect.
As Caprice investigates, she learns Alanna had more secrets than pie safes. With her Cocker Spaniel Lady by her side, she tracks down clues and adopts Alanna's cat. In the midst of some of her own family upheaval--her uncle has moved in with her parents--she finds herself with a dilemma. Grant Weatherford, her brother's law partner, advises Ace and reveals more of his past to her. Seth Randolph, the doctor she dates, wants her to meet his family. She must choose between them.
Danger stalks Caprice. Will her refresher self-defense course save her life? Only if she keeps her wits about her and Lady by her side.
*****************
STAGED TO DEATH, book 1
Caprice De Luca stages houses for high-end clients. When she discovers a body in the castle-mansion she staged to sell and starts asking questions, she finds herself in danger. On the way to solving the murder, Caprice's large Italian family helps and hinders. She also finds romance with Dr. Seth Randolph. But does her brother's partner, attorney Grant Weatherford, care about her, too? Or is he just worried she'll get herself killed and her family will blame him?
Enjoy solving the mystery with Caprice, cook along with her, see her find homes for the stray animals she protects, be a part of the De Luca family...in STAGED TO DEATH.
******************
DEADLY DECOR, book 2
Quiet Kismet, Pennsylvania, may look like any other small town, but as a home stager, Caprice De Luca can see behind closed doors--and it seems someone has designs on murder. . .Life is a full house for Caprice these days. She's dating, she's rescuing adorable cocker spaniels, and she's decorating the roomy interiors of Kismet's most well-heeled residents with fun fantasy themes. But she's worried about her pregnant sister. Bella's marriage is coming apart like a bad wallpaper job, and to make matters worse, she's decided to meet up with a former flame Bob Preston, a house painter Caprice frequently employs. When he's found dead in a pool of green paint swirling with blood, it's time for Caprice to stage an investigation. With all eyes trained on Bella's husband, Caprice shifts her attention from finding the perfect curtains to finding the perfect culprit. . .
*****************
GILT BY ASSOCIATION, book 3
Caprice De Luca's latest house staging is all about hearts, flowers, lace and chintz since Valentine's Day is around the corner. She never expects her client to be murdered in the greenhouse the day of the open house.
With her six-month-old pup Lady by her side and her own love life in disarray, Caprice ferrets out clues from the victim's best friend, Caprice's mother, the housekeeper and a special male friend who insists his relationship with the victim was platonic. However, as Caprice digs deeper, she finds the victim's past is filled with secrets that she kept from her husband for thirty years.
The past isn't merely history. The present isn't always what it seems. When hearts are involved, passion and even murder aren't far behind.
******************
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.
Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below.
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