Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Mozzarella en Carrozza

Today was one of those days when I needed a little extra love.. and some really good comfort food.. Maybe it's the 2 miles I walked before 8am.. maybe it was because my baby boy started 7th grade in the most enormous school that I've ever been to in my life (Grades 7-12 under one roof) Seriously this school is 3 floors and spans across 4 blocks.. it's HUGE! He had to be at school by 7:45.. (daily.. this is going to be a trip People..a mile and a half each way? Every morning? Mind you, around here you have to live 1.5 miles or more to get a school bus around here, and I am 1.4, I need to get a car really soon!) alright.. so I'm up at 6:20 and majorly tweaking my morning routine now, because I'm so used to not having to leave until 8, we were out of the house by 7:15... Ugh, seriously? This is not fun... it's going to take a while to get used to.. So I get him to school and I have to walk back to the bus stop to get to work.. no big shocker here, I made it to work on time...anyway.. it was all fine and dandy until P. called me at 1:30 to let me know that he can't get a ride home with his friend and he's got no last period so he's going to be done at 2.. WTF?? you couldn't tell me this earlier?!?!? Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!! Okay, fine, I let my boss know that I've gotta go because the kid has no way home, I jump on the bus to the terminal.. then wait.. anxiously for my connecting bus and finally arrive at the end of the block where the school is located.. (Oy Vey.. More walking) 15 more blocks and I'm there and he's out front waiting for me.. Okay.. Now I need a break.. but first.. Oh God.. we have to go in and get the supplies from the student store.. Where is the student store? Oh.. it's on the 3rd floor.. Wonderful.. More walking and stairs.. woo hoo.. Ok, ok.. $35.50 later for books (they have to buy their own workbooks now.. this is all news to me) color coded binders and dividers for each one.. a school planner.. Jeez.. New York schools have sure changed since I graduated. So we get the books (and all this stuff is so much, 6 binders, 2 fat workbooks and a yearly planner) it doesn't all fit in his backpack.. so I'm stuck carrying about 1/3 of this pile.. and then we have to walk back home.. I feel like I'm going to pass out! *Not to self, don't wear flip flops during the week anymore, not as long as we're walking to school* I finally walked in the door at 4:30 after stopping to pick up some more school supplies and I practically crash on my bed.. ok, just 5 minutes my feet were killing me.. then it came.. the words I knew I was going to hear just about as soon as we walked through the door... "Mom, what's for dinner?" Ha! Leftovers Kiddo.. I made more than enough last night because I had no idea what was in store for me today.. so he had sauteed chicken with tomatoes and herbs over rice.. as for me.. I needed something more, um.. comforting.. like Mozzarella en Carrozza.. yummy battered and fried sort of grilled cheese (but with Mozzarella instead of American cheese), a little bowl of Tomato sauce and a big glass of milk.. Mmmmmm..

Mozzarella en Carrozza


SERVES 4

Ingredients

  • 1 fresh mozzarella cheese, ball
  • 4 slices white bread, crusts trimmed
  • 2 large eggs, beaten,more as needed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • salt and pepper
  • plain breadcrumbs, as needed
  • olive oil, for frying
Directions
  1. Cut the mozzarella into enough 1/4-inch thick slices to cover 2 slices of the bread.
  2. Reserve the remaining mozzarella for another use.
  3. Top the cheese with the remaining 2 slices of bread, to make 2 sandwiches, and press down to compact.
  4. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, garlic, and parsley and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Put the bread crumbs on a plate.
  6. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, pour the in oil to a depth of 1/4-inch.
  7. When the oil is hot, dip each sandwich into the egg mixture, dredge in the bread crumbs, and fry, turning once, until crisp and the cheese has melted.
  8. Cut each sandwich in 1/2 and serve, while still hot, with the marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
Hopefully tomorrow is going to be better.. at least I know he'll be in school until 3..

1 comments:

Pam said...

What a day. I took my daughter to kindergarten this morning and cried all the way home. Maybe I'll make this for dinner tonight.