A trio of bruschetta toppings

ItaIlian cuisine - is it a cuisine? Or is it generations of devising from what is fresh and local? My cooking has greatly simplified over the last few years. A little garlic. Some herbs. Let the main ingredient shine.
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When my family went camping (I do not partake anymore - in fact the kids won't let me - I bring rain), I had bruschetta toppings for dinner. A trio of them.

I heated up the smallest amount of olive oil possible. Added a handful of sage and then some garlic slivers. Sauteed for 30 seconds and then added a can of cannelini beans. Done in a minute.

After years of making cherry-tomato bruschetta with olives and then topping it with a large slab of fresh mozzarella, I saw Stacey Snacks bruschetta topping - with the mozzarella combined with the tomatoes. Instant love. I used a pint of cherry and pear tomatoes (thank-you garden and thank-you Sadie (dog) for not eating all the candy-sweet pear tomatoes). Added a handful of basil, a handful of Italian parsley, some minced garlic, a minced shallot, 1/2 cup kalamata olives and the perlini mozzarella. I add oil to taste and a touch of white balsamic. You can salt and pepper. I don't.
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I also sauteed 8 ounces of mixed mushrooms, with a handful of cherry tomatoes (can you tell the tomatoes were prolific this year?) in a small amount of olive oil.

I added a little chopped red onion and cooked till soft. It was finished with a splash of white wine. Threw in some thyme and Italian parsley. Sauteed a few more minutes and I was done. I had all the dinner I needed.

Three bruschetta toppings. Messy, herby, fresh and savory. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning played on the CD. I had a book at hand. My evening was complete.

Toasted some bread and poured the wine.

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Meanwhile, after two years of being the butt of many jokes as I quickly snap photos before serving dinner... guess what? My daughter is snapping photos. She is our designated Baking Queen and has started a blog: Life and Dessert Brigade - if you have a minute stop by and wish her well. She will be a senior in college and her goal is to blog two times a month.

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Life these days - does what life does. Hectic, deadlines and sudden quiet. Sometimes there's writer's block.

Literally.

Sometimes the writer's block is cuddly.

Which is the reminder to slow down and smell the roses ... or slow down and listen to the purr.