Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Frozen Tomato Pasta

Fast, Easy and Vegan

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Sun-ripe tomatoes are flavorful and are great for snacking almost daily…I wish I could say that we grew them but these beautiful tomatoes are from a friend’s backyard…I’m a bit envious!DSC_7139

I had a planned to make Angie’s ‘Oven Baked Chicken with Italian Seasoned Tomato Sauce’ (looks fabulous, right?)…wait, no chicken?  We’re planning a trip very soon so we are limiting the number of grocery shopping trips lately…just buy the bare necessities…
Look for the bare necessities…
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities…
Old mother Nature’s recipes that brings the bare necessities of life!

What?…no song necessary?… I was about to dance….Anyway, I would like to introduce you to this very minimalistic dish so let’s put the candle…I mean tomato in the freezer!

Ingredients and Instruction for two servings (Print Recipe Here) Modified recipe from cookpad.com (recipe #3328313)

  • 1 large ripe frozen tomato (put in the freezer overnight)DSC_7144
  • 2 –3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Spaghetti noodle or angel hair pasta (I used about 200g/8oz)
  • 5-6 basil leaves tear by hand plus 3-4 whole leaves for garnish
  • Salt and pepper
  1. Put the minced garlic in a microwave proof bowl along with the olive oil. Microwave for 2 minutes at 60% power. Let it cool. Set aside.
  2. Cook the pasta 2 minutes longer than the package direction. Drain and soak in icy cold water until pasta is cold. This is my way of cooking pasta – put pasta in a skillet, cover with water then cook at medium heat. DSC_7149DSC_7154
  3. Grate the tomato, skin and all ( I advise to wrap the tomato with paper towel… it is very cold).
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  4. Mix the cooled garlic with olive oil, grated tomato and basil well in a bowl. Salt and pepper to taste.DSC_7162
  5. Drain the noodles and shake off the excess water. Combine well with tomato sauce (#4). Garnish with basil. Add more salt and pepper if you like.DSC_7169

A not-vegan arrangement: Add cooked bacon and grated cheese

My favorite way to eat tomato is actually oven-baked tomato…yum!IMG_5162-1

We have seedless grape vines in our back yard which wild birds love…Hey, leave some for us!DSC_7172I made grape clafoutis and posted the pic on Instagram (#todaystapas). It’s French but resembles Dutch Baby pancake.
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I saw a Watermelon Shark on the internet and I wanted re-create but my watermelon was round not oblong…I had to improvise…right? IMG_5174

The haze (from the wildfires) is gone for now… we’re grateful that we had some rain in the last few days.
This photo was taken two weeks ago when it was still hazy. !cid_A2B40585-2D19-430F-B812-C1ED55C4C1E9My husband and I are leaving for Japan to see our newest grandchild. I hope I’m able to resume my blog when I get back though I just would like to say to all my readers ‘Thank you’ You’re truly my inspiration.

10 comments:

  1. What a great post! My friend's husband is a gardener and his tomatoes are delicious! He gave me several of them and plans to give me some more in a couple of days. I pray that you and your husband have a safe and enjoyable trip and I look forward to seeing you back again when you can. Warm hugs. :)

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  2. Have a nice trip, Akemi!!!! Enjoy!!!

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  3. お孫さんに会いに日本に来られるのですか。楽しみですね~。お孫さんどこにお住まいですか?もし関西に住んでおられたら京都、奈良に寄れますね。

    フローズントマトをおろすお料理は始めてです。夏のレシピにピッタリですね。トマトは体に良いし美味しいので、よく頂きます。夏は箱入りトマトを買って、冷凍にしてます。トマトをベースに毎朝ミルク、小さく切ってフローズンした人参、バナナ、カボチャなどをミキサーにかけて、ジュースにして飲んでます。人参、カボチャは茹でたものを冷凍します。 簡単でしょ?

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  4. WOW! This is an ingenious recipe! I never grated a frozen tomato...but got to try it...it looks easy and not complicated, suit me just right:) I'm looking forward to make this for tomorrow's meal! The grape clafoutis sounds so good too....now...I think I'll be busy in the kitchen. Have a wonderful bonding time with your newest family member:) You are really blessed with your family and remain blessed!

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  5. Grated frozen tomato...I must try the sauce soon. Your watermelon shark looks pretty cool.
    Have a great time back to Japan with your family! And thanks for the shout out, my sweet friend.
    Angie

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  6. I've never thought about freezing tomatoes and grate them like that. What a great idea! Your pasta sounds delicious. I like vegan dish very much.
    And the watermelon shark...so cute!! Have a safe and fun trip to Japan xoxo

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  7. What an extraordinary idea! I must quickly freeze a tomato before the delicious ripe ones disappear from the markets. I love the baked tomato too! As for the watermelon... it's a real piece of art! Your post is so inspiring, as always. Have lovely holidays!

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  8. トマトを凍らすのは思いつきませんでした。旬のトマトが使えるし、おろすことでリコピンも有効に摂れそうですね。暑い夏に冷たいトマトパスタ、いいですね。いつも何気なくみていても食器の選び方やレイアウトなどセンスの良さがわかります。スイカシャークの口にいるスイミー達は枝から落ちた梨で作ったのかな。来年は孫のためにアイデァ拝借、似たようなのにトライしてみよう。(来年、思い出しますように!)

    もう新生児のお孫さんを抱きしめたでしょうか。おめでとう。体感されてると思いますが、今年は8月末から秋のように涼しいです。秋雨前線活発ですが、日本滞在楽しんでね。帰国のころには山火事の影響もなくなってるといいですね。

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  9. Have a wonderful time in Japan! What fun! I know how you must feel since I just returned from seeing our new grandson for the first time.

    My cousin's wife is a vegan cook. He said ever since he got married his blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels have gone down. He attributes it all to the vegan diet.

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  10. What a delicious vegan dish! I love it!

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