Tag Archives: tomatoes

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

There are needs: food, water, alone time.  Then there are “needs,” which are much more fun to discuss.  And that’s what I mean when I say I “need” you to make this before summer is over (it’s not!).

Other “needs” I have lately:

-Anklets, especially this cool zipper one.  I’m bringing them back!  Join me.  I don’t wanna look like a fool anymore.

-Knowing how to fix a garbage disposal.  This translates to having a garbage disposal, period.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

-Nice whiskey.  I haven’t found anything I like more than Laphroaig single malt scotch.  Treat yoself…  To peat in a bottle.

-A solid hour to devote to reading these Amazon reviews of Bic For Her.  Women!  Pens!  Hilarious.

-Finally, like I said, I need you to make this.  It’s that good.  David Lebovitz…  Thank you.

I’m talking ripe, good-as-they-get summer tomatoes, baked to a soft, concentrated mellow sweetness.  I’m also talking goat cheese–big hunks of it, with creamy warm centers and golden brown outsides.  Herbs, of course.  Incredibly flavorful, buttery crust.  And to send the whole thing to out-of-this-world excellence, we have sharp, good mustard and a drizzle of honey over the top.

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Pan-Seared Halibut with Heirloom Tomatoes

You know, I really think there’s a reason behind this important-dudes-getting-naked epidemic.  Everyone is stir-crazy lately.  Late August is a nutso-busy time.  Some are heading back to school.  Some are prepping for Burning Man.  (For the first time in my life, I know more of the latter than the former; go figure.)  Not to mention the madcap rush to go and do all the things we’d told ourselves we’d do this summer.  Camping!  Surfing!  Bonfires!  Rafting!  Barbecues every weekend!

…Yeah, no.

I’ve managed to do some of these things.

Also, I made a simple fish-and-summer-tomatoes dinner.  And you know what?  It’s enough.  I’m ready to chill out, and quietly wait for fall.  This is a little something for a hectic time.  Easy, simple.  Sometimes we cook for sanity’s sake.  Some of us eat fish.  Some of us get naked.  No judgment here.

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Vegan Tomato Bisque with Grilled Corn and Pasilla Peppers

You might be looking at this and thinking, “Ooh, tomato soup spiked with warm, fragrant cumin and topped with charred corn and pasilla chile.  It’s vegan, too?  Sounds healthy.  I want to dig into that with a spoon and a giant quesadilla.  Fresh, toasty tortillas, covered with caramel-brown blisters and oozing with way, way more sharp pepperjack cheese than necessary, to be exact.”  

I know you…  And I thought the same thing.  We get along.

As you can see, I resisted, but I have leftovers and the week is young.  

Tomatoes are incredible right now, and good tomatoes should be everywhere.  They should be eaten like fruit, maybe with just a pinch of really great salt.  They should be exchanged as gifts and set out for houseguests in fine crystal bowls.  They miiiight have been what was in Marcellus Wallace’s briefcase in Pulp Fiction.

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Poached Eggs in Spicy Tomato-Chickpea Sauce

I’ll say it: I’m (very temporarily, I’m sure) over the carbmania of the holiday season.  The pancakes.  The breads.  The rolls.  It must (very temporarily) stop.  This is exactly what I want for a lazy weekend breakfast these days: savory, fairly light and delicious.  Way delicious.

May I suggest this (and mimosas DUH) for New Year’s brunch?

Because I like to know where things come from (like babies–someone ENLIGHTEN ME), I will mention that it’s an adapted version of shakshouka, a dish of Middle Eastern origin.

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Chicken Tortilla Soup

I am a creature of many things (namely, really pale wax, inappropriate jokes and leftover margarita lime quarters), but a creature of habit I am not.  I don’t own a single movie to watch when I have the ____ feelings, or for whatever reason at all.  I buy different makeup every time, even though this and this are basically perfect.  And I rarely make dishes over and over again, the same way at least, because there are just too many other recipes I have bookmarked and dogeared for me to spaz over.

So this post is coming to you only because my dear manpanion politely requested some Tortilla Soup I Made That One Time.  I don’t mean to brag (useless phrase because that’s exactly what I’m doing and I’m sorry!), but it’s basically excellent.  Spicy (because that’s how I like anything and everything), tomatoey warm goodness.  Especially when topped with cool sour cream and crunchy, delicious green things.  Of course, this is infinitely customizable: you can skip the chicken and substitute a vegetarian broth for a hearty vegetarian meal.  Likewise, you can health-ify it by not frying the tortillas (sadface) and skipping all the creamy dairy things.

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Broccoli Cauliflower Pasta

Sometimes I am capable of pulling my hand out of the box of cinnamon Cheerios long enough make a wholesome, adult dinner–it’s true!  Behold, pasta with lots of vegetables, plus a lean, mean, mustard-based sauce.  Maybe some cheese.  Maaaayyybe just a smidge.

Once in a while, I need to detox from all the Delicious Things, and the thing about food detox is that often, that part is totally delicious, too.  Unlike, say, Xanax or heroin detox, so…  Don’t do drugs.  Just eat butter and drink beer for a week, then follow it up with something that grows in dirt.  Problems solved!  Societal ills…  I’m coming after all of you–with a bowl of pasta.

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