So Long Summertime!

  Is it really September??? Say it ain't so!  We hope this means cooler weather...at some point.  But before those garden zucchini or the last of your tomatoes disappear, you need to make this delicious eassssssy little dish.  We call it Zucchini Casserole - although I believe it originally called for yellow squash, we've never tried it any other way. A friend of ours gave us this recipe more than 15 years ago and we've been making it ever since.  Thank you Renee!!!!  This recipe can be made with store bought zucchini and even canned tomatoes - sliced or diced - we have tried it every way and it's always just as good.  Zucchini, tomatoes, shredded cheddar and a few basic spices - that's it - that's all you need and it is A.mazing!

WHAT YOU NEED:

(for a 9x13 pan)
5-6 medium zucchini

2 cans sliced or diced tomatoes
OR
5-6 medium fresh tomatoes

garlic powder

salt and pepper

non-stick spray

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat oven to 350.
Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.

Wash and slice zucchini and tomatoes if need be.
Begin layering ingredients in the casserole dish.

You really can't mess this up.

Begin with tomatoes - cover the bottom of your dish

sprinkle lightly with salt pepper and garlic powder.

Next, cover tomatoes completely with sliced zucchini
and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle completely with shredded cheddar
and continue layering until you've used
the remainder of your ingredients
or your dish fills up - whichever comes first.
We usually end up with 2-3 layers.
Cover with foil and bake for
45 minutes to 1 hour.

Remove foil at the end of baking
and continue baking a few more minutes.

This will be lava hot for a good 20 minutes or so!

Let it cool a bit before consuming.

THIS IS SO YUMMY!

Our kids have always loved it as well
zucchini and all!

ENJOY!

La Yummy. . .Classic Tomato Soup

    

I'm so excited about this week's

Free Recipe Friday
I just don't know where to start!
Might I just mention the very name,
La Madeleine's for a hint???

Nothing signifies the start of summer
more than veggies from a garden.
Specifically, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Our focus for this week is tomatoes.
I cannot say enough how much I love them.
I mean, I really really love them.
Grape, plum, cherry,
heirloom, any homegrown
varieties will work nicely, thank you.
Add some salt/pepper and eat 'em up.
If I'm needing more of a meal,
(instead of a snack or side dish)
I make a Tomato Sandwich.
THE best of summer!


For THIS week's Free Recipe Friday
you can use up some of those
homegrown tomatoes that are covering
your window sills and countertops
OR
you can use canned whole ones.
This classic Tomato Soup will
hardly know the difference and
STILL be amaaaaazing!

We used to make a pretty close version
of this soup back in The Tuttle House days.
In fact, it was almost exactly the same
minus that stick of butter
and the chicken stock.
Those two ingredients really give it a
richness that is so in keeping with
the rest of La Madeleine's menu!
The recipe below is the official
copy cat recipe of
La Madeleine's Tomato Basil Soup.
Oh. My. Word. I love that place.
Everything they offer is so yummy.
Try making this at home.
It's so easy and scrumptious
you'll never eat it out of a can again.


WHAT YOU NEED:

- 4 cups fresh tomatoes (about 8-10) 
cored, peeled, and chopped
or canned whole tomatoes
- 4 cups tomato juice (from the canned tomatoes)
(or half tomato/half chicken stock)
- 12-14 fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 lb sweet unsalted butter (1 stick)
- salt to taste (this will depend on your chicken stock)
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

WHAT TO DO:

Combine tomatoes, juice/and or stock in saucepan.
Simmer 30 minutes.

In the meantime, roll up your basil leaves

and give them a good chopping.

Puree, your simmered tomatoes
along with the basil leaves,
in small batches, in blender, processor
(or better yet, a hand-held food blender,
right in the pan - amazing).

Return all to the saucepan and
add cream and butter,
while stirring over low heat.


Garnish with basil leaves and
serve with your favorite bread,
salad, crackers or some Fried Goat Cheese!

I hope you'll try this 'taste of summer.'
It is so incredibly fresh and yummy,
easy and impressive.
You can easily buy fresh basil
in the produce section of your grocery store
and you probably have a few cans of tomatoes
in your cabinet already - so no excuses!

ENJOY!