Blistered Tomatoes

Sometimes, when I think I have absolutely NOTHING in the house to cook for dinner, I remember that I have tomatoes and I have pasta, therefore I have a meal.  By slowly cooking cherry tomatoes until they blister and pop, you create a delicious sauce, and it couldn't be easier.  I just heat up one tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat, add the tomatoes, season them with salt and pepper, and cook them for however long I want.  Sometimes as little as 10 minutes, sometimes for as long as 30.  Sometimes I add minced garlic or shallots.  Sometimes fresh basil at the end (and a dash of cream?!).  But I always add them to cooked pasta, and I always top it with lots of Parmesan cheese.     

I hope you're all getting ready to enjoy your holiday weekends!  I wrote another article for the Today Show Parenting Team about summer... and how I'm TRYING to keep it simple and fun (and messy... I keep chanting "let kids be messy, let kids be messy" - it helps with the OCD).  

You can read it (and vote!) here.