As a vegetarian it can be hard to find good things to eat at a family cookout. However, instead of complaining about it I decided to add something special to the food line up. Check out my take on these quick and easy Memorial Day treats!

Bruschetta with crusty bread:

• 4 ripe Roma tomatoes
• 4 fresh basil leaves
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 small red onion
• Salt
• Pepper
• Balsamic vinegar
• 2 loaves of bakery French bread
• 1/2 stick of melted butter

Heat oven to 375F. While oven is pre-heating, dice tomatoes and red onion then add to a bowl. Slice basil into small strips and mince garlic and also add to bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in the fridge.

Slice bread into even size pieces and place on baking sheet. Add melted butter on slices and bake in the oven for 10-15 mins until the bread toasted.

Place bread on serving plate and add bruschetta on top bread. Drizzle balsamic vinegar on bruschetta and serve immediately.

Vegetable skewers

• 2 zucchini
• 2 packages of whole or sliced mushrooms
• 2 green peppers
• 2 red peppers
• 1 package of grape tomatoes
• 1 red onion
• Salt
• Pepper
• All purpose seasoning
• 1 jar of Barilla pesto
• 1 package of wooden skewers

Soak skewers in water and set aside (prevents burning when grilling) Chop zucchini, peppers and onion into chunks and slice grape tomatoes in half. Then add to a bowl with mushrooms. Season veggies with salt, pepper and all purpose seasoning.

Take skewers and add veggies alternating in order to have an even amount of each type of vegetable on the skewers.

Grill vegetables for at least 15 mins. Half way through the grilling process, add pesto to skewers and continuing grilling until cooked.

I hope these recipes inspire you to be creative when it comes cooking. Remember vegetarian cooking doesn’t have to be boring!

Enjoy 😊