Yesterday's Dinner--Pasta with Fresh Tomotoes

Getting home again around 7ish with a houseful (well 3 really) of relatives here for Nathaniel's graduation. Had to put together something quick.

I had bought 2 lbs. of fresh garlic pasta (fettuccini cut) at the market last Saturday. I was making a fresh tomato sauce to go with it along with steamed broccoli and salad.

Put a large pot of water to boil for the pasta.

Chopped one large Vidalia onion and got it softening in about two tbs. of olive oil in a 14 in. All-Clad pan (my favorite all-purpose pan). Peeled and chopped five cloves of garlic. Turned down the heat to let the onions caramelize a little. Set the garlic aside and rinsed the tomatoes. I had bought about fifteen plum tomatoes at the market and left them in a bowl all week ripening. They were reasonably soft.

Chopped the tomatoes by cutting off ends and then slicing lengthwise followed by slicing (both halves at once.) Ends up with nice half circles.

Added the tomatoes. Heat high for about two minutes then lower to simmer. Added about a half tsp. of thyme and a tsp. of oregano—both crushed in my hand first.

Chopped roughly one bunch of fresh basil, just breaking off the stems. Rinsed first.

Rinsed and cut up the broccoli. Set a pot with a steamer in the bottom with about an inch of water on high heat.

Tore, washed and rinsed about a head of red leaf lattice and a half bag of mixed greens. Sliced and put in half a red pepper, half a green pepper, and a whole cucumber. Did a standard dressing of 2 tbs. Balsamic vinegar, 3 tbs. olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder (maybe 1/8 tsp.)—all dumped directly on the salad and then tossed in.

Put the pasta in the boiling water.

Added about a cup of canned diced tomatoes I found in the fridge. Heated, then added about 2 tbsp. of a Spanish red wine I had open. Added salt and pepper and left to simmer.

Served a small bowl of Kalmata (sp?) olives from a jar in the fridge. Also served a small bowl of grated Parmesan.

Got everything on the table quick—maybe 35 minutes.

Was in a big hurry during all this because we were all so hungry. Wanted to get some frozen meatless meatballs (from Trader Joe’s) in a pot with canned sauce so there would be something for those who are not fresh tomatoes eaters. (I have at least one.) In my haste, I picked up a jar, unscrewed it, dumped it in the pot with heat, opened the bag of meatballs, dumped them in, then realized the sauce I was heating was not tomato sauce but Trader Joe’s mild salsa! – Ahhhh! ;-0 . . . ruined.
You can see here what a mess the kitchen was when I finished.a

The dinner was fine and everyone ate their fill anyway.