EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Roasted Fairytale Eggplant & Tomato Rotini
Photo: Liz Rueven

Roasted Fairytale Eggplant & Tomato Rotini

As my summer vegetable garden was winding down I waited patiently for the last warm days to ripen my end of season tomatoes. When torrential rain and  fierce winds descended upon Connecticut a couple of weeks ago (actually a documented tornado that a friend and I watched with great excitement from my screened porch) I was surprised to find that my tomato vines were still upright and thriving when I checked on them the day after.  As my inky purple and crimson cherry tomatoes clung valiantly to their vines I picked the last of ’em without any plan in particular.

Which brings me to this super simple vegan pasta recipe that celebrates the bridge between summer and autumn. Scroll down for recipe.

summer roasted tomatoes- Kosher Like Me
Photo: Liz Rueven

But first, in a last ditch effort to preserve the taste of summer, I’ve roasted the gang of ’em- every last tomato that isn’t split from too much rain or green from too little sun. I haven’t met a fruit or veggie that doesn’t shine a little brighter after a long slow roast, have you?  

After a day trip to visit Donna Simons at Pound Ridge Organics, I began to think about roasting her sweet fairytale eggplant with a heap of freshly dug onions and garlic. And wouldn’t they be the perfect companions for my roasted tomatoes?

Pound Ridge Organics- Kosher Like Me
Photo: Liz Rueven

Not a new idea, I know. But read on….

Donna and I met at the Hazon Food Conference a few summers back and discovered that we live only 30 minutes apart. We share a passion for organic, locally grown food and supporting small producers who are working their creativity and muscle to put out products that sing with the flavors of unadulterated ingredients.

Heritage Chickens- Kosher Like Me
Heritage Chickens at Pound Ridge Organics; Photo: Liz Rueven

Donna also raises heritage birds, which she speaks about with great love and humor. She’s created a food hub in Pound Ridge, NY, just over the CT. border, that brings together locavores who support her CSA and students of all ages who are interested in farm to table cooking and wellness topics.

organic eggs kosher like me
Pound Ridge Organic’s eggs; Photo: Kosher Like Me

Interestingly, Donna sells einkorn pasta from Wild Hive Farm, which became the inspiration for the recipe below. We learned about einkorn, an ancient grain with higher mineral and protein levels than quinoa, from Eli Rogosa at Hazon this past summer.

einkorn bread- kosher like me
Eli Rogosa’s einkorn bread at Hazon Food Conference; Photo: Liz Rueven

Eli is an organic farmer and artisan baker who works to conserve almost extinct ancient wheats. She manages a 12 acre biodiversity farm in the Berkshires with her husband, C.R. Eli offered classes about einkorn this summer at the food conference where she baked loaf after loaf of einkorn sourdough bread for curious participants to sample. Her tender moist loaves landed on a couple of lunch buffets under the communal tent at Isabella Friedman Jewish Retreat Center.

Lemme tell ya, you had to be fast to nab a slice!

For pasta lovers who want more nutritional value and lower gluten in their bowl, einkorn is an interesting grain to try. The texture softens quickly, though, so adhere to the instructions on the package or reduce the time by a minute and taste for al dente. Feel free to use any pasta of choice, of course. 

einkorn pasta roasted tomatoes
Einkorn rotini with roasted fairy eggplants & tomatoes; Photo: Kosher Like Me

For more on Donna Simons and Pound Ridge Organics click here.

For more on Eli Rogosa, click Restoring Heritage Grains and her market here.

For more einkorn pasta products click here.

Click this link for more on Hazon Food Conference 

For more on what to do with your green tomatoes, see our post on real deal southern Fried Green Tomatoes.

 

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SIDE DISH
Photo by Jerri Graham Photography

Hi. I’m Liz and I welcome you to Kosher Like Me.

When I’m not caressing fruits and veggies at my local farmers’ market you’ll likely find me chatting with like-minded eaters, probing the scene in NYC or seeking inspiration in my spice cabinet. Life outside of this blog is all about my family, tasty travel adventures and power walks deep in the CT woods or along the shore.

Please brew a fragrant cup of tea, grab a nosh and stay a while.