My husband threw me a curve ball last week. He announced he was doing the Whole 30 Program. Do you guys know about Whole 30? It’s a way of eating for 30 days that takes things out of your diet like dairy, sugar, soy, and all processed foods. The first week was super challenging (for both of us!) and now he’s feeling great. He made it through the withdrawal symptoms and I made it through the label reading.

I looked at his program like a culinary challenge. How can I make beautiful food that satisfies and is Whole 30 compliant? With a little planning and label reading, it’s totally doable. I don’t mean to bum you out but it turns out, there is sugar and chemicals in just about everything packaged. I’ve been working around this by coming up with different ideas that fall within the guidelines of the program and still keep food satisfying. The last thing I want anyone at my table to feel is deprived.

This insanely delicious tomato sauce has saved me more than a few times in the last 10 days. I’ve thrown it over roasted spaghetti squash, made a to-die-for bolognese, and drizzled it over mini Italian sausage frittatas. The sauce is perfect for my Whole 30 cooking challenge but it’s great for anyone who likes good food.

I’ve been making this sauce forever and usually have it on hand in my refrigerator. Marinara Sauce is one of the easiest things to make and completely delicious. This kind of sauce is perfect to have on hand to make a wonderful pasta in a pinch and makes simple things like breaded chicken taste like a restaurant experience .

I love creating something out of nothing. If you have canned tomatoes and garlic in your pantry, you are less than 30 minutes away from a fantastic sauce. The base of this recipe tastes like tomatoes at their peak with just the right hint of garlic and fresh basil. Use as is or go ahead and get creative. I’ve added things like crushed red pepper flakes, onion, and oregano to make this sauce whatever I want that day.

Enjoy!
xo

One of my favorite things about summer is the beautiful produce that bursts onto the scene. My heart skips a beat when I wander through Farmers Markets and find my lifelong obsession: tomatoes.

When I was a little girl, I would eat them whole like apples. I loved making my own special sandwich with bread, a slather of mayonnaise, layers of sliced tomatoes, and a nice sprinkling of salt. These days, I toss tomatoes into pasta, layer them on open faced sandwiches, and eat them by the handful. Out of season, I’ll roast plum tomatoes in the oven to tease out the flavor. Roasted tomatoes are amazing in things like pasta or a delicious Roasted Tomato Soup.

This simple summer pasta is one of my favorites. It’s loaded with seasonal tomatoes, fresh herbs, and Parmesan cheese. I love the simplicity of using just a few basic ingredients to create something really special. The tomatoes are cooked until softened but just before they break. The herbs offer a fresh, bright note and the addition of cheese is subtle but great.

Enjoy!