Summer food forever (thanks to my CSA box).

FoodThe PasticheSeptember 2, 2020dinner, summer, cherry tomatoes, pasta, easy, quick dinner, CSA Comment

Caprese wheat berries

For a minute there, I was convinced that winter was behind us and spring was here. And the way my brain works, it may as well be summer...

FoodThe PasticheApril 4, 2016salad, lunch, make-ahead, caprese, cherry tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, cheese, wheat berries, arugula, healthy, light, potluck, barbecue, summer, spring, sidesComment

Sausage and spinach egg strata with sautéed cherry tomatoes

I feel like brunch is one of those meals that is supposed to be relaxed. It’s a Sunday morning, or even Christmas morning, and it’s cold and quiet and snowy outside, and I'm with my favorite people. In my mind’s eye, I see myself floating around effortlessly, sipping on a cup of coffee, chatting with my friends or family, and serving up a casual but delicious meal. But in my actual eye, I see myself juggling the timing of each dish, handling hot pans dripping with grease and making a mess everywhere I go, and trying to tackle the salty-sweet dilemma that everyone faces at breakfast time.

This dish is the answer to this real struggle—it’s the perfect meal to serve comfortably, unrushed, and still with that hint of decadence that brunch always begs for—i.e. it can rise to the Bloody Mary and mimosa occasion.

Oh and it also makes the best leftovers for lunch and dinner!

FoodThe PasticheDecember 8, 2015eggs, baked eggs, make-ahead, entertaining, sausage, spinach, cherry tomatoes, fall, winter, spring, summer, brunch2015 Comments

Baked eggs with blistered cherry tomatoes

This goes down in history as one of the prettiest dishes to photograph/serve/eat. It’s so colorful, silky, and multi dimensional—it looks gorgeous from every angle. It’s actually incredibly simple to make, too, and I don’t feel it’s very sensitive to such things as what ingredients you throw in (don't fret if you don't have exactly what my version calls for), what dish you cook it in, etc. The most important thing to keep in mind is seasoning! Eggs need proper seasoning—namely salt and pepper—but fresh herbs and sharp cheese go so, so well too.

FoodThe PasticheOctober 21, 2015eggs, cherry tomatoes, baked eggs, brunch2015Comment

Cherry tomato and creamed feta crostini

This summer was my first ever actually keeping a basil plant alive for longer than a couple of days. And with him by my side, I have grown to be a little more creative with my basil uses. This recipe is not exactly a creative use of basil (with tomatoes, garlic, and lemon?), but it is a really really tasty one. I'm so partial to cherry tomatoes in this case because they are so dependable for flavor and sweetness. Although in the right months, heirloom tomatoes would be amazing and look even prettier.

FoodThe PasticheAugust 26, 2015make-ahead, cherry tomatoes, basil, crostini, appetizers, summer, fall, vegetarian Comments

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