Cooking Can Soothe Your Soul!

Each week I get organic veggies from a local sustainable food movement.  The first crop of Roma tomatoes and fresh Basil were part of my veggie box this week.  OMG!  What a pleasure and soul soother cooking can be when you are cooking with fresh, organic ingredients.  To serve beautiful fresh food not out of a box that is full of preservatives and ingredients we can not even pronounce, truly does make my heart smile.  We also had lots of fresh berries and greens.  The cells in our bodies were screaming for joy!!
Here are a couple recipes that I made this weekend.  Both came from someone else and I made a few tweaks to suit our taste!

 

Tomato Basil Pasta (from Charming Pixie)
I normally make this with whole grain spaghetti but was out so used whole grain penne instead.  Just as yummy!

 

• Saute 1 yellow onion and 1 clove of purple garlic in olive oil
• Add a dash of sea salt and whole ground pepper(It's so fun to use a salt and pepper grinder.  You feel as though you are on a fancy cooking show!)
• Add a couple handfuls of Fresh Basil, chopped and stemmed - let wilt just a bit before adding tomatoes
• Add 1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes (I used Hunts with Basil, Oregano,and Garlic since I was out of Muir Glen Organic which are divine) with juice
• Add a dash of crushed red pepper
• Let simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes
• Pour over your favorite spaghetti or pasta.  Be sure to add some fresh mozzarella to the top!  Enjoy!

 

The next recipe was a first for me.  It was a little time consuming but oh so worth it.

 

Fresh Tomato Basil Soup(from Ullja)

• 5 Roma Tomatoes
• 1 15 oz. can of Muir Glen Italian Diced Tomatoes
• 1 Yellow Onion
• 1 clove Purple Garlic
• Olive oil
• 3 oz. Heavy Cream
• Fresh Basil

Place tomatoes in pan and cover with water.  Bring to boil.  Skins will begin to pull away from tomatoes.  Remove tomatoes from  water and place in a container.  Cool slightly and peel away skins and discard.
Drain water and place tomatoes back in pan.  Add sauteed onions and garlic.  Add 1/2 cup water.  Simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.
Add 1 1/2 cups organic vegetable stock
Add Fresh Basil - stems and all
Simmer for 30 minutes
Remove basil stems
Place tomato mixture into a blender and puree.  I did a little at a time to reduce the hot mixture from seeping out of the top of the blender. 
Pour back into pan.
Add 3 oz. of heavy cream and bring to a boil.  Stir constantly.
Add a pinch of sugar, sea salt and cracked pepper.
Place into bowls and top with a fresh basil leaf.  Serve with a garden salad and Asiago Cheese Bread.
You will think you are at a fancy tea room or favorite sisterchick bistro!

 

If you have the opportunity to participate in a local, sustainable food movement, I hope that you will.  You will taste the difference in the food.  Go out there, get some veggies and start cooking.  Your body and soul with thank you.