I’ve been tucking away some easy recipes to share. As it’s garden season and my tomatoes, while sparse this year, have been incredible. I’ve been using them in sandwiches (where they are the star) and in pasta dishes.
They deserved excellent buns, and those pictured are an easy recipe from King Arthur’s that I’ve changed up a bit – recipe here, with bonus Stuffed Burgers recipe
Making a tomato and mayo sandwich (sometimes adding lettuce, maybe some bacon) is probably my favorite tomato “recipe” but nothing beats fresh tomatoes on pasta:
This is super simple. I pureed a tomato along with dried oregano and rosemary, garlic powder, and bit of salt and pepper. I poured that over angel hair pasta* and then added chopped tomatoes and fresh basil. A little Parmesan/Romano cheese and dinner is ready.
*if you want to up your pasta game, use Durum Wheat Semolina pasta – that’s the only ingredient. Without all the additives, the taste is amazing.
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Pasta Caprese is also simple and the fresh mozzarella takes it up a notch.
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Last week, I had a chocolate craving…
I usually have a batch of Dark Chocolate Chip cookies either baked or dough in the freezer for such emergencies, but I haven’t made cookies in months. Just wasn’t in the mood, I guess.
This meant I had a huge surplus of dark chocolate chips hanging around in a jar and walnuts that probably should be used up, stored in the refrigerator. What to do, what to do?
Brownies!
I don’t usually make brownies, so I didn’t have a recipe handy. I went looking and found this one and it seemed foolproof.
I only had the dark cacao chips, not baking chocolate, so I used them. I might cut back on the sugar if I make them again. Otherwise, yum. My baking time was longer for gooey, and that may have had to do with the type of chocolate I used.
Here’s the recipe and visit her page for all her tips.
Easy Chocolate Brownies – RecipeTin Eats (pdf for printing out)
Chocolate craving satisfied
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And finally, let’s talk about the easiest bread recipe ever. Seriously, mix, pour into a pan, let rise an hour and bake for 20 minutes:
I decided I wanted to make this recipe: English Muffin Toasting Bread, to use with those last tomatoes that were ripening in the garden.
click here to find out why we didn’t get to eat that loaf and why someone got a scolding….
(I’ll give you a hint, he had his very own post here recently!)
That’s it for today. What’s on your menu this weekend?
Alison Rose
Oh, Jasper! How very doggo of you :P Our old doggie Charlie was nowhere near a Great Dane (he was mostly Australian Shepherd and Cocker Spaniel, and weighed probably around 45 pounds) but damn, did he love bread. If you held out a chunk of bread in one hand and a piece of bacon in the other, he’d go for the bread first. Of course, he also had an obsession with eating paper products — napkins, tissues (used or not!), etc. We used to joke that he was part goat.
Maxim
@Alison Rose: My current doggos (each under 20 pounds) are also fond of paper. Also any kind of crunchy plastic. And I have no doubt they would steal food off the counters if they could reach them.
The recipes all look delish.
Yarrow
Bad Jasper! It’s good he feels secure enough to do that, though.
When I have tomatoes to put on pasta I just toss them in a pan and cook them down. Add some garlic and basil and done. I can’t be bothered with anything else.
mali muso
Just got back from my first fall CSA pickup and am flush with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and salad greens. Planning to make a batch of ratatouille tomorrow and enjoy it all week.
narya
I indulged in a massive tomato purchase from my farm share a couple of weeks ago–mostly Veronas and Magic Mountains. I halved them (or quartered, if they were larger) and put them on sheet pans in a 250 degree oven for awhile. Oh my–seriously yummy. A whole bunch went into the chest freezer; February me will thank September me. Tonight’s dinner (as noted in previous thread): venison, mushrooms cooked in wine and butter, caramelized onions, red wine reduction from deglazing the pan, probably farro, and either something-something with tomatoes or possibly some carrots. Oh, and a pear tart, with a hazelnut praline between the shell and pears. I have both fresh mozzarella and burrata in the fridge, so that plus tomatoes plus some of the pesto in there will show up somewhere. Tomorrow is probably albacore, or sablefish–last week’s sablefish was marinated in miso, orange juice, boiled cider, garlic, and ginger, so I might do something like that again, though I have limes, not an orange
ETA: my go-to brownie recipe is from Smitten Kitchen. It’s more cake than brownies, but that’s fine w/ me. I’ve thrown all kinds of add-ins (dried cherries; cream cheese and strawberry filling; cream cheese filling . . .). I don’t usually have nuts around.
TaMara
@Yarrow: Yummy. When they are fresh, I’m more of an uncooked version of pasta sauce kinda girl. But the ones I puree and freeze, I do the same thing – just heat up, add some fresh garlic, basil and YUM. Excellent meals do not have to be complicated.
Virginia
Love those KAF recipes. We make the buns and the English toasting bread a lot.
Luckily, our dogs are too short to counter surf.
TaMara
@narya: 🤤 So, when should I arrive? I have leftover brownies I could bring.
eclare
Besides any food, my current doggo likes anything with a crunch, like plastic. Oh! And for some reason, Tums. I came to the living room this morning, and my purse was not on the couch where I had left it. I looked around and found it across the room, which I found weird because it’s soft, no crunch. Then I remembered there were some Tums in a zipper pouch. Back to the cabinet they went!
narya
@TaMara: 5-ish?
lowtechcyclist
@mali muso:
Damn, I thought we’d beaten those guys back in 1865. ;-)
TaMara
I just ground up the basil I dried and jarred it. I’ll freeze anymore I harvest with olive oil. Now I have to mow the lawn so when the tree guys come on Monday to beautify the plum tree, I won’t look like a slouch with an overgrown patch of grass. I’ll check back later.
I’m so pleased we were able to save the plum this summer (thanks monsoon weather) and with a good trimming/reshaping, it should have many more good years.
Yarrow
@TaMara: That’s very true. Sometimes simple is best.
Alison Rose
@lowtechcyclist: Don’t let’s be silly. OBVIOUSLY they were referring to the Controlled Substances Act.
way2blue
With tomatoes in full force right now, I’m slicing large ones, sprinkling then with ‘chiffonaded’ basil and feta cheese. Then simply a splash of olive oil and another of balsamic vinegar. Yep.
BruceFromOhio
I like that you connect behavior to “discipline.” Although only 5 minutes timeout seems like a pretty light sentence for such a bold crime.
And LOVE the fresh plates and the harvests. Yum! August and September are the best for eating simple, healthy fare fresh from the gardens. Last night MrsFromOhio did up a couple of volunteer squash canoes with a rice-sausage-beets filling, and some of the neighbors green beans steamed up on the side. Simple, cheap, delicious.
@way2blue: oooh, case in point! That sounds divine!
A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)
Our favorite way to use tomatoes is a recipe from Ina Garten called Garden Pasta, which is an uncooked tomato sauce. In a large bowl with a 1/4 cup of EVOO, kosher salt, pepper, and some red pepper flakes, you add a bunch of halved cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and julienned basil leaves, and let it sit for 4+ hours (it smells wonderful). Then you boil your pasta (she called for angel hair but I find that too delicate for the sauce so we use thin spaghetti), add it to the sauce, and then blend in about a cup+ of grated Parmesan. It’s wonderful.
Rachel Bakes
More farmshare tomatoes coming today. Probably to be made into sauce or roasted for the freezer. I made an amazing tomato-basil bisque a few months ago that calls for roasted tomatoes so I’m trying to stock up for soup weather.
shredded zucchini that needs to be turned into a chocolate zucchini cake. I made 5 dozen squash muffins earlier in the week.
dnfree
This is my favorite no-cook fresh tomato pasta recipe. It’s very simple, and the little bit of red pepper flakes makes it pop.
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pasta-with-no-cook-tomato-sauce
Nukular Biskits
That looks awesome, Tamara!
Makes me regret eating my leftover meatloaf sammich for lunch.
CaseyL
Oh, Jasper. I like the photo of him over at What’s4Dinner, with his eyes shut. Is that how he looks when he’s being scolded?
Omnes Omnibus
@Nukular Biskits: Never regret a meatloaf sandwich. Cold, right? Needs just a little ketchup. Almost as good a childhood throwback as a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup.
Gvg
My aunt’s first Great Dane Scooby Doo about 45 years ago ate 2 decorated cakes in one day. My aunt used to make extra money doing those super decorated character cakes for kids birthdays, for people she knew. She made a cake and stored it on top of the fridge. Scooby ate it. She rushed out and bought more supplies and made another. I think this one was stored in the cooled oven. He got that one too. She tiredly got more supplies and did it again. I think she either took it to the buyer right then or her mothers for storage.
I think her husband made her a locked cabinet before the next one.
Their last Dane won them a free car in a contest for being the biggest dog in Gainesville using the radio stations unique measuring rules. I think height plus width plush length nose to tail. Jock was huge and very muscular for a Dane.
Alison Rose
@Omnes Omnibus: I was never much of a tomato soup fan. BUT…sliced tomatoes ON the grilled cheese sammich? Yes.
Omnes Omnibus
@Alison Rose: But then it is a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. Which is fine, I guess. But it’s not a grilled cheese sandwich. If I am going to regress, I am regressing my way.
WaterGirl
This is not a face meant to be scolded.
narya
@Omnes Omnibus: Thank you for your comment about your SIL in the previous thread; I’ve been thinking about it all morning. I appreciate the reminder to remember to be kind.
eclare
@Omnes Omnibus:
Grilled cheese and tomato soup is one of the best combos ever. My mom made it with plain old Campbell’s, still delish.
eclare
@Gvg:
A free car? Who’s a good boy!
Death Panel Truck
Our cocker spaniel El Duque swallowed an inch-thick frozen pork chop that had fallen off the counter. He caught it in midair, gulped it down, and looked up as if to say, “Got any more?” I saw it happen, and I still don’t believe it.
zhena gogolia
@CaseyL: He is so adorable!
Omnes Omnibus
@eclare: Yes, I have had fancy versions of both the sandwich and the soup and they can be delicious, but they don’t carry same nostalgic punch.
Maxim
@Omnes Omnibus: Grilled cheese and bacon, though, especially with tomatoes — a BTC — is extremely yummy.
A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)
I had a wolf-malamute mix dog years ago who could eat anything. Gave him a big knuckle bone once to gnaw on and he promptly ate the whole thing. And one time he vomited, sniffed the vomit, and then ate it. Dogs are really different than cats!
skerry
Per WaPo: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted by the state Senate on 16 charges of bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of office. He was immediately reinstated, ending a suspension that began in May with his impeachment.
Amazing
Dorothy A. Winsor
Paxton has been acquitted. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
thruppence
Congratulations on your tomatoes – the ones that I have gotten this summer have been uniformly disappointing, even from the farmers market. Well, try again tomorrow
Omnes Omnibus
@skerry: @Dorothy A. Winsor: I am choosing to be impressed that TX made a run at doing it.
Yarrow
@eclare: Same here! I’ll still make a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup on a cold day. Comfort food. A few years ago I made it for someone who wasn’t from the US so hadn’t grown up with it. Convert!
Yarrow
@skerry: There had to be dealmaking going on. He knew the outcome. News people said their sources told them ahead of time he’d be acquitted.
Paxton wasn’t even there. He’s off to wherever Tucker Carlson is (Maine?) to tape an interview.
eclare
@Yarrow:
Conversions welcome! Good job.
Dagaetch
my grandmothers Roasted Tomato Soup is one of my absolute favorite things to eat. And now that I’m able to bake an excellent loaf of crusty bread, I can invite friends over for tomato soup and grilled cheese dinner parties, which have proven to be extremely popular. Very excited to be entering the appropriate time of year for that.
WaterGirl
@skerry: Forget about it, Jake, it’s Texas.
lowtechcyclist
@Alison Rose:
There’s clearly a dire shortage of TLAs, given how often we have to put the same TLA* to several different uses. Clearly Biden’s doing a lousy job as President because none of those bills he passed tried to rectify this shortage in the least!
*Three Letter Acronym
WaterGirl
@Dagaetch: Doesn’t have to be fancy to be good.
Yarrow
@WaterGirl: Go to hell with that comment.
Wapiti
@eclare: We had a Yorkie that had figured out how to open zippers and to open up food packets like trail bars or, say, a Ritter Sport 100g chocolate bar…
Poor dog was already shivering from the caffeine when we found him. The vet we called told us to give him a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. Which worked.
The label on the hydrogen peroxide bottle says to *not* induce vomiting if consumed, but the risk of the caffeine staying down was probably greater than the risk of the H2O2 coming up.
Kristine
I need to make that bread.
Just stuck a Dutch oven full of Smitten Kitchen’s Tangy Braised Chickpeas w/ Carrots and Mushrooms in the oven to braise its little veggie heart out. I’m not vegetarian but I do love veggies. This makes a good side dish as well as a main dish with whatever starch strikes your fancy.
lowtechcyclist
@eclare:
Never cared for tomato soup, but I’ll take that grilled cheese.
We’re getting to the end of the season for fresh tomatoes, and I’m gonna miss it – I’ve been eating lettuce and tomato sandwiches for lunch for about the past month.
eversor
@Omnes Omnibus:
We’ve had this https://www.grilledcheesedc.com/ here for a few years and it’s a local hit.
raven
Great thread as I enter colonoscopy prep!
eclare
@Dagaetch:
That sounds wonderful!
eclare
@Wapiti:
So glad that worked out! Luckily I’m not a chocolate fan, otherwise I’m sure some of my dogs over the years would have done the same.
NotMax
Did someone say grilled cheese?
;)
Omnes Omnibus
@NotMax: Does that guy comment here?
eclare
@lowtechcyclist:
I can tell that I am the odd one out here. I do not like fresh, uncooked tomatoes. Chopped in a salad, sliced on a sandwich, I do not like them. I think it’s a texture thing, because I like them in sauces, soups, etc. And I grew up in the south, so tomatoes are everywhere. But I never developed a taste for them uncooked.
Ruckus
@WaterGirl:
They learn very, very early on how to look innocent.
And know damn well that they aren’t.
It’s what makes them good at being not innocent.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@eclare: me too, I love a good red sauce, and I will very occasionally leave the tomatoes on a sandwich if they’re perfectly ripe and not too big. They look so damn good, and I love the Guy Clark song, but I have the same texture thing you do, that gooey part with the seeds is so gross
WaterGirl
@Yarrow: Wow, it was just a reference to Chinatown.
eclare
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Agree. Kind of like okra, which I also don’t eat.
Anyway
@eclare:
LOL! First time I’ve seen tomatoes compared to okra! :-
In tomato season i am partial to panzanella when i have good bread lying around (not always the case)
CaseyL
One of my favorite quickie meals is toast with cheese melted on it and slices of tomato. Not grilled, though; I put it in the oven until the cheese gets crusty. And not a sandwich, but open faced.
During my winter and spring cooking frenzy, I also discovered that chili made with ground Italian-seasoned pork is quite tasty. I’m tired of red beans, though, and about to focus on black beans. I wonder how a black bean-and-ground pork chili would taste…
NotMax
@eclare
Easy recipe for you.
“Dirty Mexican” Rice
4 ripe tomatoes roughly chopped
½ medium onion, roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled
4 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups long grain white rice
½ to 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
(Optional) pinch of ground cumin
(Optional) pinch of chili powder
(Optional) dash of cayenne pepper
(Optional) 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
.
Add the tomatoes, onion, garlic and chicken stock (and if using, cumin and/or chili powder ) to a blender or processor and pulse until the vegetables are very well blended. Set aside.
To a large saucepan add the oil and heat over medium heat. Stir in the rice and cook, stirring often until it starts to brown and smell nutty.
Pour in the tomato liquid and bring to a simmer.
Add the salt, pepper and stir. Cover with a lid and cook for 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is fluffy.
Stir in the chopped cilantro and serve warm.
eclare
@Anyway:
Growing up my mom would routinely make an okra and tomato stew. Luckily they did not ascribe to the “clean your plate” philosophy unless I put it on my plate.
eclare
@CaseyL:
Sounds good! Since it’s fall, throw some butternut squash in there.
Rachel Bakes
@Wapiti: My mom used to make fudge-many many pounds of fudge-to give as Christmas gifts (teachers, coworkers, family). She started in November each year, sliced and and wrapped in plastic wrap in half pound packages, and saved for December. Came home from school one day to learn that our garbage can disguised as a black lab had eaten about 4lb. His stomach then told him it was a bad plan and brought it all back up (which mom discovered after work). Pissed off mom and a horrible mess to clean up.
MagdaInBlack
@CaseyL: I can tell you it would be delicious because I make it regularly. I prefer black beans and ground pork is cheaper here than ground beef.
eclare
@NotMax:
That does sound easy, but it seems odd that all the spices are optional. I am a big spice fan.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@CaseyL: I’m guessing damn good. I was just checking the weather to see if tomorrow will be cool enough for chili and football. Red beans are at the bottom of my list. I tend to go with white beans for Italian flavored stuff or soups, and black for Mexican/Southwestern (those descriptors probably accurately reflect the limits of my culinary skills, X-flavored stuff)
eclare
@Rachel Bakes:
Four pounds! Wow!
Princess
@CaseyL: White beans are also really good with pork.
BigJimSlade
I can’t blame Jasper, really. I’ve made that bread a couple times – it’s great :-)
WaterGirl
@CaseyL:
That’s my go to, also. Exactly like that.
mrmoshpotato
Maybe some bacon? Maybe?
mrmoshpotato
Nom nom WOOF!
Glidwrith
What’s on my menu? Both the English Muffin bread and Jeffery’s buns.
I’ve developed….something….with commercial hamburger buns, so a good recipe is most welcome!
Tim
Bacon and tomato on toast, and, and this is key: curry mayonnaise. O yum.