On the Table: Ratatouille

I am so so so excited that summer is almost here, and loads of fresh vegetables are appearing at the grocery store and the farmers' market!  I really loaded up on veggies this week, so I decided to make a dish that incorporates lots and lots of them - ratatouille!  I made a really easy version with just the vegetables (and fruit - technically tomato is a fruit, right?) I had on hand, so a ratatouille purist might object to my naming it ratatouille, but it was delicious!  If you are not too tied to tradition, you could toss in any sturdy vegetables you have (they need to be able to withstand roasting).  You can definitely use canned tomatoes (including the crushed kind) instead of fresh, and you could also go full-summer and grill the vegetables instead of roasting them.  To prepare:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 

(Keep the vegetables separate while you work.)  Slice up three yellow squash and an eggplant into approximately 1/2 inch pieces (make sure the pieces are consistent in size).  Thinly slice half a white onion.  In a bowl, toss the vegetables with canola oil, salt, and pepper to coat.  Spread each vegetable on a separate sheet tray and put them in the oven.  The vegetables may cook at different rates, so pull them out as they are finished.  They should roast for about 35-40 minutes. 

While the vegetables are cooking, take a pint of cherry tomatoes and slice the tomatoes in half.  Mince two cloves of garlic.  Put a large skillet over medium heat.  Thinly coat the bottom of the skillet with canola oil.  When the oil gets hot, add the tomatoes and the garlic to the pan.  Cook, stirring often, for about ten minutes, or until the tomatoes get soft.  (Be careful with this part, and wear an apron!)  When pressed with a spoon, the tomatoes should squash easily and release their juices.  Using a potato masher, squash the tomatoes.  Add half a teaspoon of dried basil to the pan.

When the vegetables are finished roasting, add them into the tomato sauce.  Stir thoroughly to combine.  Taste and adjust seasoning.

Enjoy!