roasted tomatoes with homemade breadcrumbs.

Since tomato season began they have been making a nightly appearance at dinner. The first few weeks after the season begins I find myself gorging on them in their raw form. There are few things in this world more delicious then a tomato sprinkled with salt, black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil (simply heaven).  Eventually I yearn to coax a new flavor and texture out of them and that's when I find myself cooking them at high heat.  Cooking almost any vegetable at high heat transforms them into vegetable candy and this is especially true with tomatoes.  While simply roasting them is great I find them to be even better once they get covered with cheese shavings and homemade bread crumbs.

Homemade bread crumbs are a wonderful thing to have on hand. I constantly save our bread scraps in the freezer to use for breadcrumbs (always save your bread scraps!).  You can then throw them in the food processor with some garlic, salt, pepper, and whatever other spices/herbs your love and then you drizzle the whole mixture with a little olive oil.  So easy!  Top your sliced tomatoes with the cheese of your choice (if you love cheese like I do) and some breadcrumbs then slide the dish into the oven.  What emerges is a sweet and crunchy tomato that makes the perfect side to scrambled eggs or roast chicken. 

Roasted Tomatoes With Homemade Breadcrumbs

Serves 2

2 medium sized tomatoes

½ cup breadcrumbs (recipie below)

2 tablespoons cheese of your choice (I used blue but goat cheese, tallegio, or anything works!)

Olive oil

Basil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Slice your tomatoes in half and place them in a baking dish.  Top each tomato half with ¼ of the cheese and then 2 tablespoons of the bread crumb mixtures.  Drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil.  Place the pan in the oven and cook for about 15-20 minutes until the tomatoes are soft and the breadcrumbs are browned. Sprinkle with basil.

Breadcrumbs

Makes 1 Cup

This is infinitely adaptable.  You can omit all the spices and use it as breadcrumbs for fried foods or you can add use other spices depending on what your cooking.  These are wonderful on top of pasta as well!

1 cup assorted dry bread (the key is for the bread to be dry or else they wont be crispy!)

1 clove garlic

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon parmesan

1 tablespoon fresh basil

1 tablespoon olive oil

In a food processor combine the bread, garlic, salt, pepper, parmesan, and basil until crumbs are formed.  Remove the food processor and drizzle with olive oil.