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Skinny Italian Tomato Snack Recipe

August 24, 2010   75 Comments

Skinny Italian seems like an oxymoron. Can you eat pasta by the tons and still be skinny?

Skinny Italian Bruschetta Recipe

Well, Teresa Giudice of The Real Housewives of New Jersey thinks she has the answer. Hey, she is skinny and Italian so maybe she has a clue.

I must say that I am a big fan of Italians (love you, Viola) and Italian cuisine. My favorite Italian cookbook is, "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking" by Marcella Hazan (see below). The recipes in here are simply magnificent and it is a great read if you love just READING cookbooks.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey program was a mystery to me until I received this book for review. I was sick in bed for a day and watched 2 episodes. I am not a fan primarily because it seemed so negative. (Here I go being negative!) The women on the show spend a lot of time being mean to each other.

BUT, this is not a TV program review. "Skinny Italian" has 60 recipes and they seem easy to prepare. Teresa has a philosophy that I agree with. She states:

We've become used to things like Pirate's Booty and pita chips, but imagine if some guy walked out of the jungle who had never eaten anything but plants, animals, and foods made from just that his whole life. Do you think he would touch sugary cereals or diet sodas? You might as well hand him wood chips and battery acid.

Much of the book is filled with her musings on life, family, and even Danielle (her nemesis on the program). But, there are some great healthy recipes here and I think she is right about food.

The tomato bread snack (bruschetta) from the book is simple to make, delicious, and low calorie. The calories will fluctuate by how much bread you use and how thickly you slice it. I ate this recipe for breakfast and really enjoyed it.

She does pasta, pizza, and even gives a course in how to can tomatoes. Cool, no? and she tells you how to dress with flair on a budget (advice I didn't need since I have no flair :)

brushcettab

Bruschetta Classica Recipe

1.6 from 24 reviews

reprinted with permission from SKINNY ITALIAN by Teresa Giudice. Copyright © 2010. Published by Hyperion. Available wherever books are sold. All Rights Reserved.

(makes 12 servings)

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Ingredients

1 loaf wide, crusty Italian bread (not one with too many holes in the crumb), cut diagonally into twelve 1/2-inch slices
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 plum tomatoes, cored, seeded, and cut into 1/2 inch dice
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Position a rack in the center of the over and preheat the oven to 450F.

Arrange the sliced bread on a large baking sheet. Brush with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Bake until the bread starts to toast, about 5 minutes. Let cool.

Mix the tomatoes, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, vinegar, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl, taking care not to crush the tomatoes. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour for the flavors to blend.

Arrange the bread slices on a platter with the oiled side up. Top each slice with some of the tomato mixture and serve immediately. (If you prefer, serve the tomato mixture in a fancy bowl with a spoon, and allow your guest to top their own slices.)

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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75 Comments:

I follow on FB!

My favorite thing to make with fresh tomatoes is a simple tomato sandwhich. Whole wheat bread spread with a little mayo or avacado, fresh tomato slices, a sprinkle of salt and that's it!! Yummy & delicious!

My (new) favorite fresh tomato recipe is the one Snack Girl posted that combines cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and cilantro. I love it!

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EASY! just slice and top with salt and pepper. FABULOUS!

Commented on the Facebook wall.

This book sounds awesome! I'm going to look for it in the bookstore.

Well, I am a massive fan of tomatoes. I can't get enough. My favorite dish can be a snack or it can easily be eaten at breakfast. TOMATO PIE!!

In a Wholly Wholesome wheat pie shell, I add

a layer of dried beans or uncooked rice to weigh it down a bit. Then I bake it half-way, let it cool and spread some dijon mustard in the bottom. Next, I add a layer of sliced tomatoes

(roma or heirloom). I then top the tomato slices with Gruyere or Ementhaler Swiss cheese and some fresh basil from my herb garden. Bake that baby at 350 for 30 minutes and top with a drizzle of olive oil, and voila!

I'm a recovering tomatoholic...only because my consumption was out of control.My favorite way to eat them: sliced tomato (heirloom or beefsteak), salt & pepper, basil, and a drizzle of truffle oil.YUM!!:-)cc

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My mom and I used to make tomato sandwiches under the broiler. Split a whole wheat English muffin, put a slice of mater, a little bit of Italian seasonings and a splash of EVOO, and top with a piece of your favorite cheese. Put under the broiler (or toaster oven) until the cheese melts. YUMMY

I love to slice tomatoes, top them with fresh basil and fresh mozzarella cheese, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper! Delicious!!

For a quick snack I make a small salad of spinach leaves, low fat cottage cheese and grape tomatoes. Sprinkle with vinegar, a dash of salt and some pepper. Healthy, low fat, and great tasting!

I LOVE bruschetta but also some sliced tomatoes with mozzarella, fresh basil & drizzled with olive oil & balsamic vinegar is a great side salad.

I love a slice topped with feta cheese!!! MM MMM good!!

I love tomatoes grilled or roasted. YUM! This book would be a great gift for my mom his is totally addicted to the Real Housewives series and LOVES the New Jersey show...

My favorite tomato recipe- http://nrcourtney.blogspot.com/2009/06/tomatoes-florentine.…

I love taking fresh grape tomatoes and blistering them in a hot pan with a little salt. Great as a side and a snack... or mashed up into a quick and simple sauce.

I love roasted tomatoes (or any roasted vegetable for that matter)! Slice romas in half, drizzle with olive oil and salt, and bake for about 2-4 hours on 200 degrees. You can take them out when they are leathery or a bit sooner. They are great on bread, in salads or dressings, anything! I just snack on them.

My favorite fresh tomato recipe is chicken cacciatore - it tastes so much better with fresh tomatoes from my mom's garden than with the canned stuff!

My favorite is a simple tomato and balsamic salad with a sprinkle of feta cheese on top. Quick, healthy, and flavorful!

I follow Snack Girl on Facebook!

Retweeted this post on Twitter!

There is nothing better than a Jersey tomato cut into thick slices and the teeniest sprinkling of salt--yum!

My favorite summer meal is Jersey tomatoes and corn on the cob

I follow you on FB and left a comment on your wall.

I retweeted your post: http://twitter.com/cspod/statuses/22017189860

Mayo any two pieces of bread, plain or toasted.

Cover one slice with Clauson sliced dill pickle.

Top with one scrambled egg that you've just

flipped from one side to the other.

Top that with enough sliced tomatoes to cover. Add top slice of bread and ENJOY! YUMM!

A simple Farmer's Salad with low-fat cottage cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Tasty and easy to make!

My favorite tomato snack? Fresh from the garden tomatoes, cut into wedges and sprinked with a little salt. My favorite tomato indulgence? A classic BLT with salt, pepper, and a generous spread of real mayo so that it squishes out the sides (I know, I know) - all on toasted white bread. Reminds me of home.

I follow on FB! I also watch the real housewives of New Jersey+)

A simple Caprese salad with fresh heirloom tomatoes and really good olive oil. Yum!

1 tomato still warm from the sun, sliced with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. I could eat that every day during tomato season. I also like diced tomato on top of a baked potato with black beans, green onions, and a little shredded cheese (one of my favorite dinners to make).

broiled stuffed tomatoes, YUM

Love tomatoes!

One of my favorite side dishes starts with layering slices of fresh tomatoes on a platter. Add some sliced rings of red onion, black olives, basil leaves, some minced garlic, and feta cheese. Sprinkle a little Italian dressing on top and viola!

I love to eat tomatoes all summer long. It is always a sad day when our local produce stand closes at the end of the summer! One of my favorite use of a tomatoe is to make pasta (anykind will do) and add fresh basil, cut up some mozzarella into small pieces and add fresh tomatoes and blasamic vunagrette. It is a delicious summer dish.

love , love, love the recipe!! Teresa's recipe is fabulous :D

Two words: Homemade Salsa. Yum.

(okay that was three words but I couldn't help myself!)

Grilled lofat cheese, turkey bacon on high fiber whole wheat bread... a comfort food from my childhood brought to today's needs.... so yummmmy

Love fresh tomatoes with mozzarella, basil and olive oil!

Our family loves "Tomato Gratin" made with

fresh tomatoes from my 92 year old Dad's

vegetable garden!

Many thanks, Cindi

We are friends on Facebook.

Thanks very much...Cindi

Our family loves "Tomato Gratin" made with

fresh tomatoes from my 92 year old Dad's

vegetable garden...

Many thanks, Cindi

Also, i Follow Snack-Girl on Twitter.
Merci, Cindi
cmh512

"Tweet!"

http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/22030233129.

Many thanks to you!

Cindi

I don't like tomato's, but LOVE marinara sauce!!! A whole wheat crustini toasted with evoo topped w/ marinara and skim mozzerella, in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes, ummmmmm! :)

a toasted everything bagel with fat free cream cheese and fresh hot house tomato slices is the best- especially with a grind of sea salt on top.

hi

I love cherry tomatoes with soft goat cheese.

Wash (if not organic) and halve the tomatoes and take out the seeds and any inside divisions on the tomatoes; sprinkle with a dash of salt, fresh ground black pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and thoroughly (with your hands, preferably) toss them till they are completely impregnated; set aside in the refrigerator for half an hour. Remove from refrigerator in groups of six to ten, and fill with the goat cheese. Serve cold. Goat cheese is healthier than regular cow's cheese, even the skim varieties. Look for Greek people from Crete, they have a low heart disease incidence because quite the only cheese they use is from goats. Enjoy!

I love eating just plain sliced cherry tomatoes sandwiched between ritz crackers!

I like to make fresh salsa with grilled chicken. Fresh tomato with sea salt is another favorite.

My favorite tomato snack is any version of a caprese salad. I like to take a cherry tomato, cube of mozzarella, and sprig of basil, combine on a toothpick (classy!), and dip in balsamic! YUM!

My favorite way to eat tomatoes is a simple tomato salad, with sliced Roma tomatoes, feta cheese, a little olive oil and balsalmic vinegar, and salt and pepper. deeeelicious!

I suppose this isn't a fresh tomato recipe as i end up cooking the tomato, but it's def my fave recipe involving tomatoes! I cut either Roma or regular tomatoes into wedges and drop in a pot with high heat and cook until the tomato is starting to get a bit mushy (add a bit water if it's sticking badly and too dry). Then i add water and wait til boil, then add noodle! usually thin noodle like Japanese somen. Stir well so noodle doesn't stick together, add salt at this point. then right before i turn off the heat, i add like 1 or 2 eggs (mixed in a bowl). then i put a ton of hot sauce on it, and eat. mmmmmm my absolute fave. probably not the best for weight loss tho (and i know boiling veggies removes some of its nutrients, and two full eggs a day might be hitting the upper limit of cholesterol count, not to mention noodle == starch == weight gain!).

A cool book! Love it. My favorite tomato recipe? Besides when I just eat them out of hand? I imagine I love salsa. And fresh tomato sauce.

Ahh I'm a simple person.

I like tomatoes as they are, s'pecially hot house~

But tomato soup is my holy grail, I'm eternally searching for the perfect recipe!(which I can never seem to find haha)

I DO make a good tomato sandwich though~

Light wheat bread, a couple slice of roma tomato, a clove of chopped garlic and a teaspoon of a personally blended tiger sauce! For half a sandwich, about 45-50 calories(if you use fat free mayo) yum ♥

My 2-year-old and I love to snack on sliced cheese and grape tomatoes!

Our family takes fresh tomatoes and roasts them until tender. Then, we put a huge slice of mozzarella on top, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with basil and oregano! soo good

Roasted tomatoes and pepper sauce is an excellent topper used with pasta or crusty bread. This easy recipe roasts tomatoes, sweet peppers, garlic, and onions together on a baking sheet. 6 tomatoes (seeds removed), 4 peppers (seeded), 2 medium onions (quartered), and 4 garlic cloves. Coat with olive oil and add salt and pepper. Roast in the oven at 350 degrees until tender (about 1 hour). Blend all ingredients in a blender with 1 tablespoon of fresh basil or 1 teaspoon of dried basil. The sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or it can be frozen and used months later.

my fav. fresh tomato recipe is a caprese salad sandwich on toasted sourdough bread. it's so stinkin' tasty!!! :)

Can't go wrong with Bruschetta!

Love Tomatoes on anything...Sandwiches, Salads, Pasta. You name it, I'll add it. Well almost anything. But my all time favorite is an open face grilled cheese with a slice of tomatoes, broiled in the oven..yum yum

I love adding sliced tomatoes on top of my Eggplant Parmigiana (no-fry version recipe). I'd sprinkle it with parmesan cheese and let it broil for at least 5 minutes until the top is golden brown & crunchy! Delish!

Followed on Facebook & retweeted on Twitter.

My favorite way is the most simple really - just sliced fresh from the garden, sprinkled liberally with salt and pepper. Maybe a little cottage cheese on top.

Twitter follower duckybunny

My favorite way is a BLT (turkey bacon, lettuce and tomato). Our local Farmer's market has a Tomato Day once during the summer. They make tomato sandwiches with just bread, mayo and tomatoes! It is so goooooood! They have to make hundreds of sandwiches. Everyone wants at least one or two! :)

Favorite ways to eat tomatoes? Can't go wrong with bruscetta ... especially if you add some garlic and red pepper flakes. Lately it has been my favorite topping on pizza crust.... yummy!

I love tomatoes with a touch of kosher salt and balsamic vinegar!

My absolute fav is fresh salsa! Garden tomatoes, fresh cilantro, onion, green pepper, fresh lime juice, jalepenos & a little garlic!

I love tomatoes! my favorite way to eat perfectly ripe fresh from the vine beauties is to slice them thinly, sprinkles with a dash of salt, pepper and layered with some fresh mozzarella.....ice cold on a hot night....ahhh

i love tomatoes cooked as well and canned into homemade sauce and I would love to win this book....i remember her making sauce in her garage in one episode....so need the skinny element!!!

Thanks for the chance to win!

following you on twitter and i tweeted this as well!!!

My all time favorite tomato recipe is heirloom tomatoes, sliced, with a slice of buffalo mozzerella, a fresh basil leaf, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper...

I love tomato Bruschetta my mom makes it all the time for holidays. I follow on Twitter too and I love the Real Housewives show!

THIS CONTEST ENDED AUGUST 31ST, 2010.

Snack Girl-we started tomato canning yesterday, here is SF, It just isn't the same without you

Farm fresh tomatoes sliced, mayo,sea salt, black pepper, on toasted bread. Yum-o

We made this today. It was delicious. The balsamic vinegar was wonderful in this dish.

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