Tomato Pie Tarts

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At my recent house warming party, I went with a Southern hors d'oeuvres menu.  In honor of the flavors of the south, you can't forget the tomato pie.  I adapted the recipe from Southern Living's November 2011 magazine.  The version below includes the adaptations I made to this recipe.  The original recipe is linked in the notes section.  The original recipe used canned tomatoes, but I stewed down my own fresh tomatoes with basil and garlic for a fresher flavor.  I also chose to use Phyllo shells opposed to pie crust.  This provided each bite sized tart with a texture explosion in your mouth.  


Ingredients

3 packages of phyllo shells (15 each pack)
7-8 vine ripened tomatoes, cubed
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of roughly chopped basil
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup (1 oz.) freshly shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup (1 oz.) freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish: fresh basil leaves

1. Preheat broiler.
2. In a large saute pan, heat oil on medium-high heat.  Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Then, add tomatoes, basil, and salt and pepper.  Cook the tomatoes mixture down for about 5 minutes.  Strain the mixture.
3. In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, Parmesan, Cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses.    Set aside.
4. Fill each phyllo shell with tomato mixture and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Top each tomato filled shell with about a teaspoon of the mayonnaise mixture.  
5. Broil until the tops are lightly browned (this happened in about 30 seconds so keep an eye on it).  

Serve immediately.  Makes 45 shells.

*Notes*

Find the original recipe below.  

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tiny-tomato-tarts-50400000117055/

Picture from: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tiny-tomato-tarts-50400000117055/

Baked Flounder with Tomatoes and Basil

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Tomatoes and basil were meant to be together.  I love putting them together in the Garlic Pork with Tomato and Basil, or toss them together to make a simple and refreshing tomato salad.  This dish is just another way to bring these two lovely flavors together.  I found this recipe in Bon Appetit's September 2011 magazine.

Ingredients

1 pound very ripe tomatoes, cored, quartered (halved if small)

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

4 6-8-oz. boneless flounder fillets

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Toss first 5 ingredients in a large baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Spread out in an even layer.
2. Bake tomato mixture for 5 minutes. Season fish with salt and pepper. Arrange fish in a single layer over tomato mixture. Roast fish with tomato mixture until fish just begins to flake, about 10 minutes.

Picture from: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/quick-recipes/2011/09/baked-flounder-with-tomatoes-and-basil

Garlic Pork with Tomato and Basil

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This is one of my all-time favorite recipes.  I think I could eat it every week.  I got this recipe from Cooking Light, April 2006.  As you will notice, many of my regulars originated with Cooking Light.  
This dish packs a spicy yet tangy bite that can only come from Sriracha.  I like to add a little extra in for that extra kick.  The recipe calls for pork tenderloin (which is the best type of meat for a stir fry), but I will also use pork chops or pork shoulder if I have that in the freezer.  I also double the quantity of tomatoes and the sauce in this recipe.  (Shhh...don't tell anyone, but I like this sauce.)  With doubling the tomatoes, I also have to add an additional teaspoon of cornstarch due to the extra juice produced by the tomatoes.  I usually eat this with a steaming bowl of sushi rice (which only took me three years to perfect) and Garlic Green Beans.  I will post that recipe soon.  

12 ounces pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
3 tablespoons cold water
2 tablespoons oyster sauce (doesn't taste fishy; kind or sweet; kind of salty; essential!)
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. Sriracha (hot chile sauce, such as Huy Fong)
2 tsp. peanut oil (I use vegetable oil)
2 tsp. minced fresh garlic (I get a little garlic happy,and add more)
1 tsp. minced ginger (not originally in the recipe, but goes very well with pork)
2 cups chopped seeded plum tomatoes (about 3 tomatoes)
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped green onions (about 2 onions)


1.  Slice pork.
2.  Combine water, oyster sauce, sugar, Sriracha, and cornstarch in a small bowl.
3.  Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet (or Wok) over medium-high heat.  Add minced garlic, ginger, and pork.  Saute 3 minutes or until the pork is done.  
4.  Add chopped tomatoes, salt, and pepper.  Saute 1 minute.  Add cornstarch mixture; cook 1 minute or until thickened.  Add basil; stir to combine.  Remove from heat, and sprinkle with onions.  Serve with steamed rice.

Spaghetti with Two-Cheese Sauce

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This was dinner tonight, though mine didn't look this photogenic.  I used this recipe from Cooking Light's July 2011 magazine.  I made a few changes (as always) based on the ingredients I had on hand.  I used regular thin spaghetti for the pasta opposed to the linguine called for in the recipe.  I also substituted low-fat ricotta cheese for the mascarpone cheese.  With this substitution, I not only get to save on calories, but I also get to save a few dollars.  Some other suggestions would be to add some cubed, precooked chicken breast, substitute regular pasta for whole grain, or add some cooked zucchini or summer squash.  The recipe was very simple and quick, just like advertised in the magazine.  

8 ounces uncooked linguine (or thin spaghetti)

1 cup 1% milk

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil divided

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 cup shaved fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided

1 1/2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese (or ricotta cheese)

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.  Drain; keep warm.

2.  While pasta cooks, combine milk, 2 teaspoons basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl; stir milk mixture with a whisk.

3.  Heat a small saucepan over medium heat.  Add oil to pan, swirl to coat.  Add flour to pan, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  (It may not take all of 2 minutes, but cook the flour until it begins to change color) Add milk mixture; cook for 3 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring frequently.  (The basil likes to stick to the whisk)

4.  Remove from the heat, and add some of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, reserving some for sprinkling on top of each plate, and the mascarpone cheese to the milk mixture.  Add cheese mixture to pasta; toss to combine.  Sprinkle with remaining basil.  

Yield: 4 servings (1 cup pasta mixture)