Gazpacho

Definitely a recipe that improves upon sitting refrigerated for several hours.

Makes about 6 cups.

4  large, very ripe tomatoes, chopped coarsely
1  medium onion, chopped coarsely
1  red bell pepper, chopped coarsley
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped coarsely
¼ cup each, parsley and basil, finely chopped
1Tbp sriracha sauce (or tabasco, or similar hot chili sauce)
2-3 slices good white bread, torn into big pieces and soaked very briefly in water to moisten
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ c     olive oil
2 T     vinegar (sherry vinegar or balsamic is nice)
    salt and pepper to taste

Process the mixture in batches in a food processor.  You can make it as smooth or chunky as you like.  You might want to add some tomato juice or V-8 to thin it out, too.  Chill well before serving. 

Drizzle each serving with some good olive oil before serving. 

Periprandial entertaining

Maybe I've glommed onto something....

It was Nick's and Ben's birthday. We met at my house for drinks and munchies, headed out to a local restaurant for a very nice dinner, then back to the house for dessert.

Little expense, little to clean up, and a great meal I didn't have to spend all day Saturday cooking!

That might seem an odd sentiment coming from someone who writes a food blog, but even we cooks get tired occasionally.

First fresh tomato sauce of the season

I'm making a pot of fresh tomato sauce -- first of the season!

 Sure, they're still hothouse tomatoes from New Jersey, but they're big and red and tasty.  Great for sauce.  But I do have basil and parsley from the garden. 

I've posted the recipe here. 

Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.  I have a couple big zucchini in the fridge that I bought at a farm stand on the way home from the shore last weekend.  One idea is to slice the zucchini, toss with olive oil and seasoning, and arrange on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle liberally with grated cheese -- pecorino, parmigiano -- and into a hot oven until the cheese has browned.  Toss pasta with the tomato sauce, then arrange the zucchini on top.  Really outstanding.