Ingredients
8 slices day old, good quality Italian bread
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups tomato sauce (8 ounces each)
3 small plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
Several fresh basil leaves, torn
2 cups shredded mozzarella, smoked mozzarella or provolone cheese
Directions
Pre-heat broiler. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Chop bread into bite size pieces. Add EVOO, three turns of the pan, butter and garlic to the skillet. Melt butter into oil then add the bread. Season the bread with salt and pepper. Toss and cook the bread 7-8 minutes then add the tomato sauce and fresh tomatoes. Turn to coat and warm the tomato sauce, 3-4 minutes. Remove the bread gnocchi and tomatoes from heat and transfer to a casserole dish, top with basil then cover the dish with cheese. Place the casserole under the broiler and cook 2-3 minutes, until the cheese browns and bubbles. Serve immediately.
