Yummy Summer Recipe

While I should be posting some great summer pictures, or pictures of my new bed that Dan built, I am going to share a great recipe.



This is from my Taste of Home magazine August/September 2010 issue. I just happened to have Italian sausage links in the freezer and was looking for a recipe to use them in. Here goes:



Fire Island Ziti

2 lbs plum tomatoes halved lengthwise (I used Romas because that's what I have in my garden)
3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
8 oz uncooked ziti (I used rigatoni I think)
2 c fresh broccoli florets (I used frozen)
1 lb Italian sausage links, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (I was more generous with this as we like heat)
1/3 c grated Romano or Parmesan cheese



Toss tomatoes with 2 Tbsp oil, garlic and salt. Place cut side down in a baking pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Chop when cool enough to handle.

Cook pasta according to directions, adding broccoli during last 4 minutes. Meanwhile, in large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage in remaining oil until no longer pink. Add pepper flakes; cook 1 min longer. Stir in tomatoes and heat through.

Drain pasta/broccoli; toss with sausage mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.



Then, we made this bread to go with the pasta.



Monterey Ranch Bread

Brush split loaf french bread with melted butter; broil until browned. Combine 2 c. shredded monterey jack cheese (didn't have that so I used mozzarella) with 3/4 c ranch dressing. Spread over bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley.

I don't know if you've ever gone to the Taste of Home website but it is chock full of super recipes to try. Here's the link:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/

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I am starting to enjoy the produce from my garden. It's so interesting but my tomato plants have some sort of disease but they are still producing tons of tomatoes. My peppers are not even blooming yet. I have had lettuce and cabbage from the garden. My one squash plant is going crazy and taking over the whole garden.

The funny thing is that last year I didn't plant one thing in the ground, I just left them in their pots on my back deck and I had a bumper crop of tomatoes and peppers. This year, I did the whole nine yards and my tomato plants are sick and my peppers are not blooming. Go figure!

I've been buying quite a bit of stuff at the local farmer's market enjoying sweet corn, beans, zucchini and peppers. I love this time of year!