Can you tell I love tomatoes? One of my favorite ways to enjoy them is Oven Roasted. The flavor is so concentrated and smoky, and great for making sauces, pizzas, tossed in pasta or salads…so many uses.  Also, very easy to make. I like to use locally grown Hamakua Cocktail Tomatoes [...]]]>

Can you tell I love tomatoes? One of my favorite ways to enjoy them is Oven Roasted. The flavor is so concentrated and smoky, and great for making sauces, pizzas, tossed in pasta or salads…so many uses.  Also, very easy to make. I like to use locally grown Hamakua Cocktail Tomatoes when I roast tomatoes. These are smaller than regular tomatoes and larger than cherry or grape tomatoes, just about the size of a golf ball.

Oven Roasted Tomatoes

2 clamshells, (2 pounds) Cocktail Tomatoes
Kosher Salt
Olive Oil
8 cloves garlic

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Slice tomatoes in half vertically from top to bottom. Arrange seed side up on a lined sheet pan.

Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt.

Smash garlic cloves, and roughly chop. Drizzle garlic with olive oil. Toss garlic on top of tomatoes.

Bake for 45 minutes.

Balsamic Marinated Cherry Tomatoes 

1 Pint Box Organic Cherry Tomatoes Balsamic Viniagrette 1 Tsp Kosher Salt 1/2 Tsp [...]]]> I use these Balsamic Marinated Cherry Tomatoes in many of the salads I make, including my Weekend Gourmet Signature Green Salad and my Independence Day Orzo Salad. Quick and simple to make, fresh and delicious. Without the tomatoes, it’s a simple balsamic viniagrette recipe.

Balsamic Marinated Cherry Tomatoes 

1 Pint Box Organic Cherry Tomatoes

Balsamic Viniagrette
1 Tsp Kosher Salt
1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
3/8 Cup Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Slice Cherry Tomatoes in half from the top. Set aside.

Whisk together Salt, Pepper Garlic Powder, Oil and Vinegar in medium bowl until it forms an emulsion.

 
Add tomatoes and stir slightly to ensure that all tomatoes are covered, absorbing marinade. Let sit for at least 1/2 hour, gently stirring once or twice. If using later, cover and refrigerate. These may be drained added to any salad, or you may also add the liquid for a balsamic viniagrette dressing.

There are [...]]]> Rosemary Lemon Chicken is my husband’s favorite dish. He would argue with that statement, but I know it is true, because it is what he asks me to make it more than any other recipe. In fact, he would like me to bake a chicken at least once a week and sometimes, I do.

There are so many good reasons to do so …. delicious, tender chicken the first night, chicken sandwiches the next day, chicken enchiladas for dinner the next night, and chicken soup or chicken stock, for a savory and complete end to the bird.

Homemade oven-roasted chicken will always beat the store-bought Costco or Safeway version in tenderness and taste. In addition, you know there will be no MSG or other preservatives and chemicals. I make sure to use only organic – free range chickens whenever possible. It costs a little more, but definitely worth it.

Oven-roasted chicken is a very easy dish to make, as well. In fact, once you put it in the oven, set the timer and pretty much forget about it.

Rosemary Lemon Chicken
1 Small Young Frying Chicken (approx. 5 lbs)
2 Lemons
1 Medium Yellow Onion
3 large Sprigs Rosemary, leaves removed and finely chopped
2 TBS Butter
1 Large Head Garlic
Salt
Pepper
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Remove all giblets and anything else from the inside of the chicken. Rinse with water. Place on baking sheet. Pat dry. Liberally salt and pepper outside of bird, including the inside of the cavity. Lift up skin on breast from near the cavity, separating skin from the muscle and making two small pockets. Add a pinch or two of salt and pepper in this area too.

Roughly chop onion into large chunks. Cut Garlic head in half horizontally, leaving skin on. Chop one lemon into large chunks. Squeeze lemon juice from the lemon over the bird. Stuff lemon peels/pulp chunks, with onions and bottom half of head of garlic (skin still on), into the bird.

Take second lemon and cut in half between ends with stems. Zest 1/2 of the lemon. Slice the other half into attractive slices, about 1/4 inch thick. Set aside. Take top half of garlic head and peel the cloves. Run through a garlic press and mix with lemon zest. Remove leaves from the rosemary stem. Finely chop about half of the rosemary and mix with the lemon zest/garlic and 2 TBS butter.

Rub lemon zest/rosemary/garlic/butter mixture inside breast pockets and on top and sides of chicken. Toss remaining rosemary leaves on top and around chicken. Some people dress the bird by tying the legs together with kitchen string and tucking the wings under. I never do and the chicken turns out fine. But I will leave that up to you.

Place stuffed bird, breast side up, in medium-sized cast iron dutch oven, with lid off. Garnish top with reserved lemon slices. Pour in 1 box of chicken stock. Place pot in preheated oven. Immediately reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Set timer for 1 hour, 45 minutes and bake. Remove chicken from pan and let rest on a serving platter for 15 minutes and serve. Any remaining juices may be strained and used to make a light sauce, by reducing with 1/2 cup of white wine.
Enjoy!