A New Way With Tomatoes

Look what I have.  There are a ton of tomatoes this year.  I'm canning them today, and tomorrow, and the next day........

Did you know that you spell tomato without an E?  I didn't until a customer told me I spelled Tomatoe Herb bread wrong on the chalk board that took me hours.  How rude.  I think we should change the way you spell tomatoe, potatoe, and fourty.  Those are the three words I just can't seem to get right.  

On to the new way with tomatoes though.  I have a wonderful new fresh tomato pasta that I tried last week.  It is from a Rachel Ray mag that I got a few months ago and I have been dying to try it.  You can't try it with wimpy store bought tomatoes though.  They're are just down right sick and nasty.  Only a beautiful lunker, still warm from your garden will do the trick.  This is so good I have to admit I made it for just me yesterday for lunch.  Only one person to be eating, but I made the whole recipe anyway.  I'm going to eat it for every meal until it's gone.  It is that good, and then maybe I will be extremely sick of it, and I won't miss it until next year's tomatoes come around.  That's how I do things at my house:) 

Again I improvised a bit since I didn't have the goat cheese in the fridge, but I had some blue cheese.  It was a huge hit!  Also I may have added just a titch of cream.  You know me.  I have my granny's blood running through my system.  Everything is a little better with a little cream or butter.  So I hope you have some lovely tomatoes, and a variety of colors makes it even better.  I used just big old red ones, and a big handful of my yellow cherry tomatoes cut in half.  Talk about a beautiful meal!

Herb Butter and Goat Cheese (or Blue Cheese) Angel Hair with Dang Fresh Tomatoes

adapted from Rachel Ray

1 lb. of Angel Hair Pasta cooked al dente

While your pasta is cooking, saute in a pan:

 1 small onion chopped 

3 cloves of garlic chopped

6 T. of butter

Stir around until the onions are soft.  About 5 mins.  Then add to the onions:

1/2 c. white wine (I'm sorry mom, I did this, but I told my bishop!)

Stir this mixture around until it reduces a bit in the pan.  It will only take a few minutes.  You can use chicken stock too if you want.  Can you imagine if someone saw you walking into the State Liquor store.  I know I'd hear, "Well hello Sister Clawson."  The alcohol cooks out they say, but I couldn't tell you who "They" is and they could be just feeding me a line. Oh well.   Next add to the onions:

1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley

2 T. dill weed

a handful of chopped fresh basil (use what you have and if you don't have all the herbs it will still be amazing.)  Stir until mixed together.  In a large bowl place the drained pasta with: 

1 c. blue cheese

1 c. reserved pasta water

salt and pepper

  Stir around until the cheese is melted.  Add the onion, and herb mixture and continue stirring.  Finally add:

2 c. chopped tomatoes (all colors)

grilled chicken or sliced steak (totally optional)

Mix again and stir in a little cream or half and half if you want it a little more saucy.  Serve with shredded parmesan cheese.