I love taking part in food-blog events. I do. It's just that they require timing - you know, cooking and posting and emailing by a certain date - and most of the time my life is just too hectic to remember all of that. So it's a nice surprise when I see an event that I can take part in - and I already have the perfect post for!
Grow Your Own is an event that "celebrates the foods we grow ourselves and the dishes we make using our homegrown products." OK. So maybe I didn't grow these beautiful tomatoes, but my dad did, and since he gave them to me they're fair game, too!
This was a super-easy lunch - and a Martha recipe to boot - so you guys know I was happy. (Oh, how I heart Ms. Martha.) I've said it before, however, and I'll say it again: Many of the recipes out of Martha Stewart Living just don't turn out for me. I don't know if that's because I'm untrained or what, but I've struggled with them (except for Cookie of the Month - they're always fabulous.) For the last several months I've been subscribing to Everyday Food, and I've been pleasantly surprised. There was only one recipe that I just didn't enjoy - but I think that's because I just wasn't used to the taste of the dish and was expecting something different.
I loved the simplicity (and easy clean-up) of these roasted tomatoes. In fact, as soon as I turned the page and saw the recipe I tore it out and used it the next day. And it was that good - everything I was hoping for. The biggest benefit? It's easily used for other dishes - and I used it again in a few days! (But that's another post, soon to come!) Of course, fresh, ripe, homegrown tomatoes are the best kind and it doesn't take much to improve them - if they need improving at all. But a little butter and garlic never hurt anybody, did it?
Garlic-Roasted Tomatoes (With Spicy Whole-Wheat Pasta and Parmesan)
Martha Stewart, Everyday Food
Ingredients (for tomatoes):
4 large beefsteak tomatoes (about 3 pounds), cored and halved crosswise
2 tablespoons butter, cut into 8 thin slices
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Preheat oven to 400*. Place tomato halves, cut side up, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Dividing evenly, top with butter and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Bake tomatoes until tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
For the pasta:
It's pretty easy to make the pasta. Basically I cooked it according to directions, and when it was finished I dumped it into a large bowl. I added enough olive oil to lightly coat, a couple of shakes of red-pepper flakes, and then I added the tomatoes. I stirred it somewhat vigorously - but not so much that I broke the pasta pieces - I just wanted to break up and distribute the tomatoes. That wasn't hard to do after roasting them because they were very soft. I then shaved some fresh parm over the top and voila, lunch (in our case) is served! Enjoy!
8 comments:
My aunt gave me a copy of Everyday Food and I loved it. The recipes are just what you say they are.
Now, I want to subscribe to it.
Don't you just love recipes that are so easy and versatile? These both look delicious!
This is the type of dish that I want to cook everyday! And your title said it all 'Simple Fresh!'.
You are so right about a little butter and garlic never hurting, and in fact often making things taste even more fabulous! The roasted tomatoes look soooo yummy! Thanks for a delicious entry for Grow Your Own #3!
Abby, pasta looks delicious. I'm vegetarian and pasta is my number one food when we eat outside. This looks like pasta that is served in Italian restaurants. I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks!
Isn't that awesome when you already have a post for an event? That happened to me once, and it was great! Your tomatoes looks fabulous. I'd love them with some crusty Italian bread right about now. Thanks to dad too; he must be quite the gardener!
well you've just been darn busy while I've away ms. abby! Those maters look yummy! I haven't found any good ones at the store lately. I wish we had a local farmer's market... but eastern NC seems to be severely lacking in local culture and great stuff like farmer's markets... *sigh*
Roasted tomatoes!! Simplicity at it's BEST!!!
Post a Comment