Lifestyle Gourmet

Create your lifestyle approach to all things gourmet and swankified. What do I mean by a lifestyle approach to gourmet? Well, we all want the gourmet lifestyle but time, relationships and finances often dictate what our approach looks like....so let the lifestyle dictate the approach! So let me show you how to swnakify even the leanest budgets, cheapest cuts of meat and seemingly most innocuous vegetables. Let me start with a story....Last week was co-op day, I received about 20lbs of seasonal vegetables and as part of my order I had about 5lbs of the most beautiful tomatoes you have ever seen. Folks, real tomatoes are red, they don't need to sit or be dressed up to disguise their anemia. So what does one do with 5lbs of Romas? Well, if you are like me you start with tomato sandwiches, a hearty roll, homemade mayo, choice tomato slices and a sprinkle of kosher salt. Whew, that takes care of 1/8 of a pound, now what?

Roasted Tomato Soup

Preheat oven to 425
Ingredients:

• 1/4 c olive oil

• 2 red onions, sliced thinly

• 12 -18 cloves garlic

• 3lbs tomatoes halved and seeded

• handful of cilantro

• Salt

• pepper

• 2 t. sugar

• 6 ounces ricotta, drained

Preparation:
In a large roaster placed on stove top, saute onions and garlic in 1/2 the olive oil for 5- 8 minutes. Add tomatoes and saute an additional 5 minutes. Place entire roaster in oven uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and puree. Adjust seasoning to taste and divide among six bowls, garnish with cheese, cilantro and final drizzle of olive oil. Serve with a crusty bread, homemade or store bought. Hey a girls gotta save time!