happy fall and a yummy recipe :)

I miss blogging! I feel like it's been soooo long since I've posted anything! I'm going to try and do better with that. I'm learning with my new job that it's all about balance. I could easily stay late at school and bring things home to work on until going to bed and then repeat that routine each day but I would then be speeding toward Burned Out Blvd. :) So this is the beginning of me taking a break from checking papers and planning lessons and everything else...

Fall is my favorite season! I absolutely love the cooler weather and the color of the leaves and the smell of fireplaces! To celebrate, here's a cozy, fall-ish recipe. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
• 8 slices white bread (6 slices if your bread is on the larger side)
• 1 large clove garlic, peeled and halved (for rubbing on the outsides of the bread)
• Butter

Preparation

1. In a small bowl, mix together the ricotta, olive oil, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Refrigerate for at least an hour (or up to 24 hours) to allow the flavors to develop.
2. Lay down the bread slices and, using a butter knife, spread the ricotta mixture evenly on each piece. The ricotta mixture should coat the insides of both pieces of bread. Note: If you’re using large pieces of bread, you may want to make more of the ricotta mixture, or only make two or three sandwiches instead of four).
3. Lay the mozzarella slices evenly on every other piece of bread (one side of each sandwich). Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and close the sandwiches by place both cheesy insides together.
4. Rub the outsides of the sandwiches with the cut side of the garlic clove, then butter both sides generously.
5. In a large frying pan over medium-low heat, cook the sandwiches, flipping often, until they’re golden-brown on the outside and the cheese is melted inside, about 10 minutes.
6. Serve immediately.