SIMPLY SCRUMPTIOUS: OPEN FACED

I have often told people that I am not a huge fan of sandwiches. However, when I stumbled across this wonderful little article on Facebook yesterday, I realized that wasn't actually true. What I'm not too crazy about is the typical American sandwich, with packaged cold cuts slathered in mayonnaise, between a gob of mushy white bread. On the other hand, that article reminded me that what I do love is a well made, flavorful, open-faced sandwich, made with a good, hearty bread. When I was in France I fell in love with the Tartines mentioned in the article. On trips to Denmark our former exchange student Eric taught us to love Smørrebrød. And, when I bought my copy of Giada De Laurentiis's Everyday Italian cookbook, I fell madly in love with things like crostini topped with roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese, or even Nutella. Now, one of my very favorite breakfasts/pantry dinners -- a quicky I can make from things I usually have on hand -- is Giada's Italian Egg Sandwich. Hubby likes it too!

ITALIAN EGG SANDWICH

(1 serving)

3 teaspoons olive oil
1 large egg (I recommend farm fresh, pastured eggs)
1/8 tsp. coarse salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1 slice rustic white bread (1/2 inch thick)
1 garlic clove
1 T. freshly grated Parmesan cheese (not the stuff in the green can!)
1/4 cup warm chunky Marinara Sauce (Giada uses homemade, drained of excess liquid) or Pizza sauce

In a small, heavy skillet, heat 2 tsp. of the oil over a medium flame. Crack the egg into the skillet, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until the white is firm and the yolk almost set, about 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, toast the bread until golden brown. Brush the remaining 1 tsp. of oil over the toast. Rub the garlic over the toast, then sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Spoon the drained marinara sauce over the Parmesan and top with the cooked egg. Serve immediately.

Buon Appetito!

P.S. This recipe got me to thinkin' that I should probably share more of my favorite recipes -- the kind that are super simple to make, utilize fresh local ingredients, and are packed full of flavor. In other words, recipes that are "Simply Scrumptious." Be on the lookout!

ADVENTURE TIME

I think I married my dad!

It's been a few months since Hubby and I have been on an adventure with our BFFs, Toad and Mimi. This time we decided to introduce them to another favorite spot, but one that is the polar opposite of the fancy schmancy hotel in Houston's City Centre where we met up with them the last couple of times. In fact, it's really just a bar/cafe in Port Aransas, with a few rooms to rent.

Why would we take them there? Primarily because it's not just near the beach, it's actually on the beach, and beaches just happen to be our friend Toad's fav-o-rite places to be in the whole wide world. Plus, if you go while school is in session? In the middle of the week? Well, you've got the place pretty much to yourself. Why do we love this particular place so much, when the rooms are just boxes with built in furniture covered in tile (so they can hose them down to get rid of the sand), without any closets or wi-fi or mini-bars? For starters, there's the view from the rooftop deck.

There's rolling out of bed, pulling on my swimsuit, and heading out the door for my morning walk...

then coming back to join the sleepyheads on the cafe porch, while they wake up with their morning coffee...

coming back there in the middle of the day to cool off with an iced tea or soda...

and winding down there at the end of the day, visiting with whatever interesting people Mr. Toad has struck up a conversation with. (The man never met a stranger!)

There's breakfast tacos at Cancun, fried oysters at Giggity's, trying one of Texas Monthly's top 50 burgers at Port Aransas Brewing Co., an afternoon gelato at Coffee Waves, and a scrumptious seafood dinner at Shell's, followed by live open-air music at The Back Porch or down by the marina.

You can even top it all off with a bit of dolphin spotting down by the jetty!

What more could one ask for in an adventure?