The House of Sick

So much for the "excellent immune system" I was boasting about the other day. I put up a good fight, but when everyone in your house is sick and you are responsible for wiping your son's nose, the game is over. So, are you wondering what I've been making for dinner lately? This:


Leftovers and leftovers. And last night we ordered pizza. I miss cooking. I miss wanting to cook. I didn't even go to the market yesterday!! It was Sunday Market Day! Sad.

But it was also Oscar Sunday day, and sick or not I felt I HAD to make at least one appetizer, even if I did think Benjamin Button was nominated. One problem. I had nothing in my fridge. However, I've seen one or two MacGyver episodes in my life and I was prepared to make an appetizer out of Ramen noodles and twine. So I pulled out this:


That's puff pastry, diced tomatoes with garlic in a can, Romano cheese and baby food. Okay, let me explain that last one. The other night I roasted some broccoli and mushrooms (olive oil, salt and pepper, done) and I put the leftovers in the Cuisinart for my son. So, what to do with these 4 things...

I once watched Giada make these Tomato Basil Tartlets, which call for puff pastry, fresh tomatoes, olive tapenade, fontina cheese and basil. My ingredients were close enough! The food I pureed sort of resembled a tapenade in consistency. And I didn't even need twine. Here ya go, I will call them Baby Food Tartlets. No I won't. I will call them Vegetable Tapenade and Tomato Tartlets. Maybe? Whatever, I'm sick.

Vegetable Tapenade and Tomato Tartlets

Puff pastry
Olive oil spread
Vegetable tapenade (pureed roasted vegetables)
Diced tomatoes (canned or fresh)
Romano cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Remove puff pastry from freezer and let defrost slightly, 20-30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry sheet out. Don't over-roll, just smooth it out. Cut small circles, however many you want to make. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. With a fork, poke a few holes in each circle. This prevents pastry from puffing too much. Spray with olive oil spread.


Then take another baking sheet or dish, spray the bottom of it, and place it on top of your circles. This will also help prevent it from puffing.


Bake for 6 minutes, until golden brown. Leave oven on.


Spread vegetable tapenade on each circle.


Add a few tomatoes on each pastry.


Top each tartlet with a piece of Romano cheese.


Bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese starts to melt.


*If you're wondering what kind of mother steals her son's baby food to make an appetizer, well, a sick one does.