My two tomato plants that grew so huge that I call them tomato trees are still giving me more tomatoes than I know what to do with. But I kinda do know what to do with them because I never tire of this fresh tomato pasta or my Tomato Galette or Tomato Tart.
Watercolor sketch of my biggest gardening success ever.
These cherry, or grape, tomatoes just keep on coming.
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I've made this with fresh herbs when I have them, but have written it down for you with dried herbs because everyone always has those. My herbs, planted near the tomatoes like always, were soon completely obliterated by these two giant tomato plants, so I've been using dried.
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Fresh Tomato Pasta
(Makes 2 to 3 servings)
4 tablespoons (2 fluid ounces/59 ml) extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped yellow onion2 cups halved cherry or grape tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/16 to 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 pound (8 ounces/227 grams) mini penne pasta, cooked and drained
2 to 4 tablespoons grated parmesan
Garnish: fresh basil or flat-leaf parsley
1 Boil the water for the pasta. I boil about a quart of water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a 2-quart saucepan for 1/2 pound of mini penne pasta. No need for the huge amounts of water called for on the pasta boxes!
2 Heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the onion over medium heat for as long as you like, but at least until softened, about 5 minutes.
3 Add the halved cherry tomatoes, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar, basil. oregano and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan and cook over medium heat for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes release their juices and form a sauce with the olive oil.
4 Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the skillet; stir over low heat for a minute to coat the pasta well with the sauce. Divide between two or three plates, top with a sprinkling of grated parmesan, garnish and serve.
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Jean
66 comments:
Love your painting! It's perfect! And this looks very much what I do with my fresh tomato pasta -- a bit different and some good tips. I didn't grow tomatoes this year and something ate all of Rick's but I plan to buy a bushel or at least a half-bushel and go to town making and freezing sauce for the winter. I found last year that if I used an immersion blender, I could turn it into wonderful tomato soup instead of sauce or if I wanted to, add meat and more fresh herbs when I heat it up. I'll need to clean out the freezer though. Wonder what surprises I will find there... Thanks for this. I might make adjustments to mine!
PS -- Isn't MINI-penne the best? MUCH preferred!
Jeanie, thanks so much. Mini penne is my favorite pasta--I don't even buy the regular penne anymore unless every store in town is out of the mini! I haven't tried out my immersion blender on these yet because I'm enjoying them chunky so much, but I'll give it a whirl for some tomato soup soon!
Wonderful water colour, Jean! My aunt has painted hundreds of water colours over the years and made some good money doing it. Art runs in my family. What can I say about your fresh tomato pasta? Well, I prefer pasta over almost anything else but I have never seen mini penne. I must look for it. I would enjoy it so much more than the regular. Your dish appeals to me big time and I adore sourdough bread too so, yes, I would definitely enjoy this dish made with fresh tomatoes from the garden. Yum! What a treat!! We are having "gunk" for dinner tonight. That was my little brother's name for my mother's goulash; macaroni, tomato, and hamburger casserole. :-) So we have always called it gunk here too. Enjoy the long weekend!
Thank you, Sandi. I'm so glad you like both the painting and recipe! I know Barilla pasta is available in Canada, and they make mini penne. If your store doesn't carry that pasta shape but does carry that brand, perhaps they can order it for you. Enjoy your "gunk;" I'm sure I would!
What make of water colour paints do you use, Jean? I can tell you are using good quality water colouring paper. I like the Italian theme you keep coming up with. Its that time of year here too in England, sun and blue skies, except when it rains of course. Mediterranean, is always a good description.
Maybe it’s because my dad was fond of repeating a certain expression when we lived in Argentina that translated, “poor, rotten tomato.” Whenever he wanted to express facetious sympathy for someone’s exaggerated problem, he would use it. He used it broadly – as a sobriquet or a canard – so I was never quite sure what it meant or if it made sense. But my name being “Tom” and the association with “Tom-ato” made be quite sure it referred to me on occasion. Anyway, perhaps for that reason, I’ve never acquired a fondness for tomatoes. In recent years I’ve eaten them more often, however, and for sure the derivatives of tomatoes play large in my diet.
Thanks, Tony. Yes, Italian food and wine is always good! Funny you should notice the quality of the watercolor paper! Not that I won't branch out with other brands of paint, but so far all my paints are Winsor & Newton and Daniel Smith, both excellent quality.
Sully, with some people I would doubt that a word association like that would affect a food choice; but in your case, the case of a writer, words have a special power, so … Interesting! Glad you're including the derivatives of tomatoes in your diet. Cooked tomatoes are supposed to be even better for you than raw tomatoes.
Sounds fabulous! Just wish my tomatoes would have performed as well! However I do have enough to make this!
So glad that lots of folks are getting wonderful tomatoes. I am not, more's the pity. I really like your tomato sketch, talented Lady!
As always Jeanie, beautiful photo!
Abbe, thank you! I have no idea why they did so much better this year than ever before. I used to try to be really scientific about my "crops," but now I just do the "hit and miss" style of gardening and see what happens!
Thank you so much, Vee. I'm having a lot of fun painting my groceries these days!
Thank you, Jo! Photographing food is kind of fun for me!
So fresh and full of flavours! A wonderful weekday meal, Jean.
Your watercolor looks great! I enjoy using the garden for inspiration... And food in general. Keep painting! Hope to see your around more. 🙂
Oh, yum. I just love fresh pasta cooked al dente with fresh tomatoes. Topping it off with a little fresh basil would be perfect! Now how about a scoop of gelato for desert!!!
Your fresh tomato pasta looks so fresh and yummy! And as always I love your beautiful painting :-)
Angie, thank you. Yes, I love having a dish that comes together quickly on a weeknight!
Thanks so much, Babychaser! Why didn't anyone tell me how much fun painting is!
Thank you, Richard! Just enough seasoning and red wine vinegar to accent, but not overwhelm, the flavor of the fresh tomatoes. A scoop of gelato would be the perfect dessert!
Tamago, thank you so much! I appreciate that.
So inviting. Looks like a great dish to feature those tomatoes.
Well, Jean, I have not been as fruitful with my own stash of garden tomatoes this year, but I recently found a remedy! Will trade art for tomatoes! I just traded a 'Happy Everything' picture for lunch and a grocery bag full of cherry and heirloom tomatoes. I've been enjoying a week of splurging on tomato dishes...including tomato pasta. I love your tomato pasta recipe and plan on making it for dinner tonight! Love your sweet and cheery cherry tomato watercolor!
Thanks, Ellen. Gotta love tomatoes!
Thank you so much, Sue! I hope you love the pasta dish. What a grand idea--trading art for tomatoes!
Love your painting Jean, and there is nothing better than a great fresh tomato pasta, it looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,447 this week. Hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
If I am lucky I get maybe three tomatoes every other day. I buy mine at the farmer's market . Your pasta lucks great, I am envious.
All I get from my garden is a handful of tomatoes once a week. I am envious , your pasta looks great.
YUM! Looks good. Now I want some of it :) You did a nice job on the painting too! Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 4. Shared.
Looks good, Jean! I prefer your fresh tomato pasta to pasta covered in tomato sauce.
Looks delicious! I'm a big fan of tomatoes. Congratulations on the big haul. Yum. :)
#unlimitedmonthlylinkparty
Love your watercolors! They really add to posts and, as I said last week, they will be perfect illustrations for your cookbook!
Fresh tomato pasta is the best, especially with homegrown tomatoes!
Thank you, Miz Helen! You are so sweet. I hope your long weekend is going well!
Thank you, Gerlinde. I haven't quite figured out why they do great one year and not the next!
Thank you, Dee! Much appreciated!
Thank you, Margie. Yes, it's a completely different flavor, so fresh and light.
Jennifer, thanks so much. Hope I can duplicate my garden success next year. Probably not!
David, you are so sweet! I'm afraid I haven't the drive to get out and pursue a cookbook deal, but if one falls into my lap, if I'm suddenly "discovered," I'll do watercolor illustrations for it!
Yum! Your fresh tomato pasta is the perfect summertime meal, Jean. I love your watercolor, too. Happy Labor Day weekend!
I love pasta and yours looks delicious!Best wishes!
Your tomato pasta does look good :)
Great painting too.
All the best Jan
PS Happy September wishes.
Kitty, thanks so much! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Maristella! I bet you have the perfect dish to serve it in!
Jan, thank you. We love tomatoes, so I just had to paint some! :-)
I never get tired of eating fine, ripe tomatoes and this dish is just ideal. My tomato plants were producing a plentiful supply until a few days ago when the dreaded blight set in. Oh well, it was good while they lasted.
Thanks, Phil. I'm hoping I can repeat my gardening success next year, but I think it was just a fluke, nothing to do with me!
Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 41.
Thank you, Dee!
Having productive tomato plants is so much fun and so rewarding. Love this simple pasta idea. I'm also in need of ways to use fresh tomatoes. Thanks Jean!
Thanks so much, Lea Ann. I sure hope my tomatoes do this well next year, but I doubt it! :D
Love your watercolor, Jean, so beautiful! And the recipe looks delicious. Pinned it for later. #bloggingrandmotherslinkparty41
Love this sort of dish at this time of the year! We make something similar -- so easy and good! Thanks.
Candi, thank you so much! And Pins are always appreciated.
Thanks, KR. "Easy" and "good" don't always go together, but yes, this is both! :-)
Love your watercolor painting and the dish looks yummy! Thanks for linking up with us at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 41
I love the idea of enjoying your Fresh Tomato Pasta with some good bread and wine, Jean! Your sauce looks lovely, and it's so nice you could use home grown tomatoes. I really like your painting too. I'm featuring this post at the Hearth and Soul Link Party this week. Hope to 'see' you there! Wishing you a lovely week!
April, thank you so much! I'm glad I got to paint the tomatoes before they were all gone. Now I'm back to buying tomatoes!
Sylvia, thank you! I'm having a lot of fun with the watercolours!
Jean this is a recipe that I can easily sink my teeth into. I may be Greek but I am always cooking pasta at home. Simple with lots of olive oil from our farm and I am happy as a tomatoe!
Thanks so much, Mary! Good olive oil is such a wonderful thing--so many uses!
Hi Jean,
Your fresh tomato pasta looks delectable. We recently made pasta with Bruschetta sauce,
(the sauce was from Trader joes) but it was really great, so I can imagine that the
fresh tomatoes were really amazing.
Again, thanks for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comments.
Blessings, Nellie
Thank you, Nellie! Yes, there's nothing quite like a fresh tomato! (I have to buy them at the store and farmers market now, though; mine are done!)
Congrats! Your post is FEATURED at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 5. Party open now!
Thanks so much, Dee!
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