Today I am happy I learned to love tomatoes. Not on my list of approved foods when I was younger, but suddenly, in mid-adulthood, they made the list. It helps to try to grow your own, with a certain appreciation for the miracle dangling from the branch. But my turn-around occurred prior to the garden miracle. Thank goodness!
This week's cooking challenge with French Fridays with Dorie: slow-roasted tomatoes. From page 342 in "Around My French Table". In her text, Dorie describes them as "somewhere between fresh tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes". The recipe is super simple and provides another excuse to use other garden items: fresh thyme or rosemary. Alas, it's too late in the summer to use my cherry tomatoes. Luckily, they are plentiful in the stores.
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Rockin' the Rental Range.
GE Profile is a winner! |
Oh, did I mention? I am not at home. I am in
Sedona, Arizona, cooking in a kitchen not my own, using appliances and cookware not my own. I did think far enough ahead to bring some of my favorite things, however. I am up for the challenge!
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| Typical Sedona Scenery |
On the fly I chose a couple other recipes from the cookbook to go along with the tomatoes. Probably didn't make the
best choices. Oh well. I'm calling it a success, and it kept us out of the restaurants for two dinners anyway. (Fresh Orange Pork Tenderloin, page 273; and Broth-Braised Potatoes, page 358.) Both recipes were pretty simple, althought segmenting the oranges was time-consuming. And I didn't bring my microplane, so the zesting was ridiculous. Also, the pork recipe called for those exotic cardamom seeds. Since I forgot to bring mine from home, thanks go to Safeway in Sedona for stocking them. Not cheaply though! Ouch. (If you are one of my local friends reading this, feel free to ask for cardamom pods. I now have LOTS.)
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| Slow roasting intensifies the flavors. |
This week's cooking challenge with French Fridays with Dorie: slow-roasted tomatoes. From page 342 in "Around My French Table". In her text, Dorie describes them as "somewhere between fresh tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes". The recipe is super simple and provides another excuse to use other garden items: fresh thyme or rosemary. Alas, it's too late in the summer to use my cherry tomatoes. Luckily, they are plentiful in the stores.
Hope you are enjoying your stay in AZ ... you're not too far from me. :) Good for you to keep cooking while on vacation.
ReplyDeleteHow nice holidaying in Arizona and roasting this...a perfect summer condiment for the pork tenderloin...I paired mine with pan fried dijon mustard pork chop :) it was fabulous :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great holiday,
Elin
You're a brave woman roasting tomatoes in the Arizona Summer! Your tomatoes look delicious!
ReplyDeleteArizona looks beautiful, hope you are enjoying your vacation. Cooking in a strange kitchen is always and adventure but it looks like your tomatoes came out perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLovely looking tomatoes! Hope you enjoyed your vacation! :)
ReplyDeletecardamom is cheap here in England! what a great idea to have the toms as a side to that dish!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place. I'm glad you enjoyed cooking out of AMFT while on vacation. I think these tomatoes are definitely one of the best loved FFwD recipes in a while!
ReplyDeleteI was chuckling when I read your cardamom comment because I exhale every time I have to pull my expensive bottle out for another Dorie recipe. For some reason that sticker shock on that one seems to linger on :) And kudos for knocking this recipe out on vacation. Nana and I both enjoyed this and honestly, I am not sure how we managed to not make this recipe (in one version or another...) before. But we will be making it again ~
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed that you're keeping up with your French Fridays recipes on vacation - that's dedication!
ReplyDeleteI'm appreciating tomatoes more than I did when I was young, as well. It's funny how our taste buds develop over the years.
It always makes me so happy when I can cook on vacation!
ReplyDeleteAZ looks beautiful - enjoy.